Becoming a carbon neutral business: our carbon commitment

According to the Climate Change Committee, an independent, statutory body established under the Climate Change Act 2008, the transition to EVs will be one of the most important steps to reaching the UK’s Net Zero target. As an organisation striving to democratise electric vehicle ownership, carbon reduction is central to our mission. But sustainability is deeply integrated into our practices, beyond our actions as a business. Since businesses are responsible for over 85% of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK, we recognise the importance of measuring, reducing, and offsetting our carbon impact.

We have partnered with Carbon Neutral Britain, an organisation responsible for offsetting over 500,000 tonnes of CO2 and planting over 2 million trees, to measure and offset the carbon emissions associated with our operations. By working remotely in the first year, we have been able to prioritise carbon efficiency, eliminating Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. As such, our annual carbon footprint was estimated as just 22.47 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e), following the ISO 14064 and GHG Emissions Protocol Accounting Standard.

We are now supporting offsetting projects certified to the highest standards through the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), Gold Standard Voluntary Emission Reductions (VER), and Certified Emission Reductions (CER) programmes, positively impacting forest creation, reforestation, wind farm, and hydro power projects around the world. Some of the projects in our offsetting portfolio include the Nicaragua reforestation program, the Andes mountains hydro power project, and the South West Australia reforestation program, which provide lasting social, economic, and environmental benefits.

Nicaragua Reforestation Program

The Nicaforest program manages 490 hectares of land and has planted approximately 360,000 trees across four farms. As well as planting teak, the project protects native vegetation and offers a natural habitat for native animals and plants. Working with local landowners, the program has created more than 200 jobs during planting periods and approximately 30 permanent forest management jobs.  

Andes Mountains Hydro Power

Aiming to help meet the rising demand for energy in Chile, the hydro power plant, La Confluencia, takes advantage of the Tinguiririca, Portillo, and Azufre Rivers to generate and supply zero-emission energy to the central electricity grid. The project also finances social development proposals in areas such as healthcare and education through the Tinguiririca Participa grant program.

South West Australia Reforestation Program

In an area identified as one of only 35 globally significant biodiversity hotspots, the South West Australia project is restoring a healthy landscape by planting more than 60 native tree and shrub species. It encourages native animals of the region that have largely vanished to return and breed, such as the Malleefowl, Western Spiny-tailed Skink, and the Woylie.

We are proud to be certified as a carbon neutral business and to be supporting projects which positively impact local wildlife, ecology, and biodiversity. Looking forward, the understanding of our carbon emissions will shape how we grow as an organisation as we accelerate the rollout of EV charging infrastructure across the UK.

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