A PIONEERING move from BT Global Banking could soon see it have the 'greenest' fleet in the country. The division of BT is encouraging drivers on its 125-strong car fleet to enter into a deal with the company to plant trees to absorb the CO2 emissions from their vehicles.

Recent research from Edinburgh University's institute of ecology and research management has revealed that five trees are enough to absorb the one tonne of carbon emitted from an average petrol car during its lifetime. BT Global Banking's fleet of cars average 10,616 miles each per year, which means 625 trees will have to be planted to offset the C02 emissions. The five trees for each car will cost £15 and the division of BT is still investigating how this will be paid.

If the scheme proves to be successful it could be extended to more sections of BT's fleet which totals 71,000 vehicles - the largest in Europe - and lead to the planting of the 'BT forest'. The scheme is being run in conjunction with Future Forests, which has been urging visitors to the British International Motor Show to buy a tree to reduce some of the environmental impact of driving.