UK Carline celebrates winning ‘green transport’ award
ONE of the UK’s leading car leasing firms, Preston-based UK Carline, is celebrating after winning Best Green Transport at the Lancashire Green Awards 2009.
UK Carline beat nominees across the county and co-finalists, Eco Cabs and BAE Systems, to win the award for its industry leading carbon offset initiatives.
In July 2009, UK Carline successfully launched the first CO2 offset scheme of its kind in the UK vehicle leasing industry, following research into ethical carbon reduction projects carried out with offset specialists, Carbon Balance.
The initiative saved 198.80 tonnes of CO2 emission in its first three months, which is equivalent to flying from London to New York and back 421 times, or driving around the earth in a medium-sized petrol car 128 times.
General Manager, Simon Booth, commented on UK Carline’s aware win. He said: “This is a fantastic way to round off the year and the success we’ve had with our CO2 scheme. We’re now confident that we will easily surpass our original goal of offsetting over 1,000 tonnes of CO2 within 12 months.
“The award was given on the basis that we demonstrated a comprehensive programme that benefits both the business and its clients, and allows us to deliver transport services with minimum environmental impact – something which is a big ask in the motor industry.
“There is a fast growing trend for any organisation that leases cars to look at reducing or offsetting CO2 emissions. What is also very apparent it the costs that companies can save by reviewing their automotive policies. Reviewing non essential journeys, vehicle maintenance and fuel are yielding substantial savings. Our clients who switched to the new scheme have been pleased to see such impressive results in a short space of time and many more are in the process of switching to the carbon offset package.
“Until there is sufficient technology to fully replace non-fossil fuel motoring, carbon offset and balanced motoring are sensible options. This is a fantastic scheme and we are proud to be the UK’s first to offer it on such a wide range of fleet vehicles.”
The company also achieved CarbonZero status in September 2009, after completing an approved Greenhouse Gas Audit to calculate its carbon footprint.