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The Issue  | Avoid & Reduce | Offset

What's the issue?

Cars have become a fundamental mode of transport in Australia and for most businesses a car fleet is pretty much a given, but the convenience of cars means that many greenhouse gas emissions are generated to transport our workers to meetings, between business sites, to and from work and social activities.

Approximately half of all passenger vehicle travel is work related, with almost 32 billion kilometres for business use and another 45 billion kilometres transporting workers to and from work (ABS Survey of Motor Vehicle Use - released September 2008).

Each kilometre we drive burns fuel and that fuel releases greenhouse gases into our atmosphere.  Every litre of unleaded petrol you consume releases around 2.5kg of greenhouse gas (measured in CO₂-e or carbon dioxide equivalent), while one litre of diesel releases 2.9kg CO₂-e and LPG 1.7kg CO₂-e.  The efficiency of the vehicle (a function of design, engine, weight, etc.) and driving style of the driver determine the fuel consumption and the amount of greenhouse gases released per kilometre, so there are plenty of factors that can be changed to reduce the emissions you create.

The majority of cars on Australia's roads use unleaded petrol and have an average fuel efficiency of 11.1 L of per 100km (ABS Survey of Motor Vehicle Use - released September 2008), converting to a greenhouse gas emission of 278g CO₂-e per km. 

However, the Guinness World Record for fuel efficiency on Australia's roads was set in early 2008 by John & Helen Taylor.  They achieved a fuel efficiency of 3.13L per 100km (diesel fuel), which converts to emissions of around 98g CO₂-e per km - around one third of the national average - and that was achieved over a distance of 14,580km, not just a short Sunday drive.  The record was achieved in a diesel-fuelled Peugeot 308 HDi, proving that choosing the right vehicle for the job and driving it well has the potential to deliver amazing emission reductions.

How to avoid and reduce emissions

Here are some ideas to avoid and reduce emissions.  Check out our sustainable transport guide for businesses for more ideas and inspiration.

• Do you really need a meeting? Could you achieve the same outcomes through an email or telephone conversation?  Investigate the potential of teleconferencing, video conferencing or web-conferencing - any set-up costs will soon be recouped through fuel savings and productivity gains. 
• Plan your meetings and combine several meetings in one location if you need to drive.  This reduces the emissions generated by travelling to the same location on multiple occasions.  Organise meetings, deliveries and other business activities to avoid vehicle travel during peak periods - you'll see reductions in fuel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and precious time.
• Consider alternative transport - travelling on a train, bus or tram could give you time to read or work on a laptop computer while getting to and from your destination.  Car pooling with colleagues is also an option that can reduce emissions and give you an opportunity to prepare for your meeting or discuss other workplace issues.
• Train your drivers to drive more efficiently, making necessary vehicle trips as low-emission as possible.
• Select the right car for the job.
  If your workforce and travel needs are based primarily in metropolitan areas, a fleet of compact cars or hybrid petrol-electric vehicles would probably offer the best fuel efficiency and lowest greenhouse gas emissions for the job.  If your workforce and travel requirements require frequent long distance trips, a fleet of efficient new turbo-diesel vehicles may be more appropriate.  If you need a larger 4WD or trade vehicle - investigate new diesel options which balance both performance and fuel efficiency. LPG fueled vehicles may represent a cheaper option for fuel
• Compare vehicles. Use the Federal Government's Green Vehicle Guide and the fuel consumption stickers on each vehicle as a starting point to compare CO₂ emissions between vehicles - these figures come from a standard test, so while you might not necessarily achieve those efficiencies on the road, the relative efficiency between vehicles will remain constant.  It is important to compare the CO₂ figures and not the fuel consumption, because the different fuel types release different amounts of emissions per litre.

Of course car fleets aren't the only source of transport emissions for your business, find more tips in the following sections: Freight and logistics, Travel, Staffing and HR.

Offset the rest

It's important that we counteract the impact of the greenhouse emissions we create by undertaking an activity to absorb an equivalent amount of greenhouse gas from the atmosphere.  Greenfleet plants permanent, biodiverse, native forests to offset greenhouse gas emissions on behalf of businesses and individuals.

Use our online Tree Totaller to calculate the emissions generated by your business' car fleet, air travel and on-site energy consumption,then submit your calculations for a quote from our Business Relationships Managers.

Or contact one of our Business Relationships Managers for assistance.