Avis Budget Group EMEA marks 16 years of maintained CarbonNeutral® certification after releasing latest emissions figures from its CarbonNeutral® program. In 2013, the company will offset 12,661 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (tCO2e), which is equal to its operational footprint for the year, bringing the total emissions offset since 1997 to 198,578 tCO2e.

The figure is equivalent to the emissions produced by 18,047,590 return trips from London to Paris on the Eurostar or enough gas to fuel 198,579 hot air balloons. Avis Budget Group EMEA achieved CarbonNeutral® status in 1997 and remains the only business in the region to fully offset its operational footprint.

Avis Budget Group EMEA’s carbon reduction program has been achieved through a series of energy saving and waste reduction measures, implemented at all of its corporately owned premises across Europe. Measures include the installation of low electricity consumption technology and motion sensor lighting systems, as well as improved building insulation.

Avis Budget Group EMEA is also involved in a number of worldwide environmental projects such as the development of renewable energy, methane capture schemes and tree planting. In 2013, the company will be helping to fund a wind turbine power project in India, a hydroelectric power project in China and a geothermal power project in Indonesia. As well as helping to generate vital clean and sustainable energy for these regions, the projects are also providing economic and social support for people living in nearby communities.

Kaye Ceille, Managing Director, Avis Budget UK comments: “At Avis Budget Group EMEA we take our environmental responsibilities seriously, which is why we’ve committed to being CarbonNeutral® for the last 16 years. We are always looking for new ways to help reduce the environmental impact of our operations and achieve the highest possible standards of environmental accountability.

Avis Budget Group EMEA features a number of environmentally friendly cars for customers to choose from on its fleet, including vehicles in both the Mercedes BlueEFFICIENCY and Volkswagen BlueMotion ranges, in addition to standard-engine vehicles rated at very high fuel efficiency. All cars on the fleet undergo periodic comprehensive checks to ensure they are running at peak efficiency.

To encourage customers to keep environmental awareness front-of-mind, the company has also developed an environmental driving guide, which provides simple steps to help drivers reduce their emissions, and they also offer customers the opportunity to offset the carbon footprint of their journeys via their website.