Automotive Industry

Carbon neutrality is possible for all electric and fossil fuel cars

Cars and trucks account for 15-20% of global carbon emissions; and on average account for 20-30% of a typical households footprint and significant proportion of a business footprint.

Vehicle manufacturers, businesses and individuals alike are under increased pressure to reduce their environmental impact, by adopting cleaner vehicles and offsetting fuel emissions. Even electric vehicles cause carbon emissions whilst being driven. The actual amount depends on the source of the electricity - therefore electric cars are only as clean as their power source. If the electricity is predominantly produced from fossil fuels the cars will have a higher footprint than if the electricity is mainly generated from low carbon or renewable energy sources.

The good news

Advances in car design over recent years has lead to big improvements in efficiency. This has increased the miles per gallon (mpg) you can expect a car to achieve, which results in a reduction of CO₂ emissions and saving fuel costs. However, driving even the greenest of cars will still result in additional carbon emissions (unless powered totally by renewable energy). Individuals and companies are now increasingly looking to offset these emissions, through investing in carbon reduction projects around the world.

Who should offset the emissions?

Anyone within the supply chain can take responsibility for the emissions produced by the vehicles, and benefit from providing the carbon offsetting solution. This can include :

the manufacturer,
the car dealer,
the lease / rental company,
the fuel provider,
the fuel card provider,
the electric charging point provider.

What are the benefits to offsetting the emissions?

Being seen to be a leader in tackling climate change is an important goal for many companies, as it helps them appeal to environmentally focused customers, and meet tendering requirements. Carbon offsetting can provide a key marketing differentiator and help attract (or keep) customers that have strong environmental policies. Whether the cars are already low emission vehicles and you are looking to provide a full carbon neutral solution or whether you are looking at ways to minimise the risk of poor media coverage for emissions caused by your vehicles, carbon offsetting can play a key part of your marketing strategy.

What are the costs involved?

The costs for carbon offsetting are relatively small, and can often be funded directly out of a company's annual marketing budget.

As an example...

A years worth of carbon emissions for an average diesel car (based on an average mileage) can be offset through high quality verified projects for less than £5 per year (<$6.50). Offsetting 10 years of emissions at the point of sale can typically be less than 0.3% of the cars sales value.

For cars with lower emissions these costs can be significantly lower - the comparable annual mileage a typical electric car can be offset for just £2 per year.

What type of projects are available?

There are a huge range of projects available both in the UK and around the world, ranging from renewable energy projects to projects with strong community benefits. Carbon Footprint Ltd can provide tailored offsetting solutions for your business.

Want to offset your own cars emissions ?

If you have less than 3 cars, then use the calculator below to calculate your vehicles emissions, and press "Offset Now" to offset the emissions. If you have a fleet of cars you would like to offset, contact us to speak to one of our consultants and discuss your vehicle offsetting needs.