Just as it helps turn waste into new resources, TDG Environmental leverages its essential fuel spend with BP Plus to create new business opportunities, expanding from a local sole trader to an industry tech leader.
Managing stormwater and sewer assets in urban environments is complex but TDG Environmental had a simple vision when it launched in 1989 to take on the large multinational firms providing services to councils and utility operators. “Our founders believed they could bring better service and customer focus so they bought trucks and grew from there,” says current CEO Jochen Behr (above). Today, TDG is the leader in sustainable stormwater and sewer management services in Australia and New Zealand, mapping pipe networks with multi-sensor technology and robotic crawlers, cleaning water infrastructure assets, conducting repairs and maintenance, and delivering recycling solutions. While most of its work happens below ground, TDG’s team spends a lot of time in the air, thanks to the flight savings it unlocks with BP Plus and Qantas Business Rewards.
The Take-Off
"A vision for better service"
“Most people don’t see what we do but, at its core, TDG maintains our clean environment by taking care of waterways and underground systems, including stormwater and sewerage, for councils and water authorities. Since 2016 we’ve acquired several businesses, all of which had the same mission to provide the best technology, tailored solutions and great service. We now have a fleet of 400 trucks and light vehicles and fuel is one of our biggest ongoing costs."
“We partnered with BP Plus because it has a large network and we save money. Fuel consumption reports we get through the online portal also help us identify issues such as excessive fuel usage, which may indicate a problem with the vehicle’s engine. It means we can investigate and resolve any issues promptly.”
Tip: As a Qantas Business Rewards member, save up to 10% off the base fare of selected flights, plus up to 5% off Red e-Deals~. Learn more
The Turning Point
“Technology is changing the game"
“Our other point of difference is UtilityTrack, our proprietary software that’s like Google Earth for pipes. It’s CCTV footage taken by state-of-the-art equipment going through pipes and covers more than 10,000 kilometres of that underground network. It’s one of the largest databases of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and helps our customers reduce costs and supports preventive maintenance.”
“We still need to be there on the ground and fuelling our fleet with BP Plus earns us between 50,000 and 60,000 Qantas Points a month. These points are reinvested into flights; our team travels a lot across sites in Australia and New Zealand to make sure we’re putting robust and consistent processes in place as we scale up. Likewise, as we continue to grow and add to our fleet, onboarding new vehicles is easy via the BP Plus online portal.”
Tip: With over 1,300 destinations across Australia and the world, the Qantas network is built to get you and your travellers wherever you need to be.
The Future
“Expanding our solutions"
“Our business model is about staying very local in terms of devising tailored solutions for each of our customers but at the same time bringing the benefits of being one of the largest players in the market. If we implement a great solution for one customer we work out how that could help other parts of our business. You need personal interactions to build trust with clients and travel will always be central to our business."
“We also travel to make sure we are bringing all the latest innovations; events like the IFAT annual world trade fair for environmental technologies in Munich, Germany are essential. We’re still acquiring businesses so our executive team travels a lot – across the company we take around 30 flights a month. We book these trips through Qantas Business Rewards so we access flight discounts and earn Qantas Points for the business, as well as the traveller.”
Rewards for you and your business, too
With Qantas Business Rewards, save on flights and unlock rewards - all in one place.
Exclusive flight savings
Take your business further with up to 10% off the base fare of selected flights with Qantas, oneworld and partner airlines.*
Request an upgrade
Unlock bigger rewards and savings with Qantas Points across your entire trip now counting towards your membership level, from car hire and hotel bookings to eligible Qantas and Jetstar flights.
Manage travel all in one place
Book and manage all business travel seamlessly for you and your team, directly from your Business Account.
Important Information
* A business must be a Qantas Business Rewards Member to earn Qantas Points for the business. A one-off joining fee of $89.50 applies, is inclusive of any applicable GST and may be varied by Qantas from time to time, without notice, in its absolute discretion. Membership and Qantas Points for business are offered under the Qantas Business Rewards Terms and Conditions and earning thresholds apply.
~ Savings are available exclusively to Qantas Business Rewards Members on the base fare of selected fares only and do not apply to taxes, fees and carrier charges. Availability is limited. Member Deals are subject to the Qantas Business Rewards Terms and Conditions.
Qantas would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the local lands and waterways on which we live, work and fly. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.