Fleets are being urged to join a nationwide campaign to cut emissions by 10% in 2010.

The 10:10 campaign has been launched as world leaders prepare for December’s climate change talks in Copenhagen.

It has already attracted 550 companies, 14,000 individuals, 150 schools and 250 other organisations, including hospitals and councils, which have pledged to cut their carbon emissions.

But it is fleets that can have a massive impact and are being urged to sign up.

“As a bulk buyer of intensively used vehicles, the fleet sector is perfectly placed to take the immediate, effective and achievable action central to the 10:10 project,” explained 10:10 campaign manager Daniel Vockins.

“Over 800 businesses and organisations have already taken the 10:10 commitment, and with momentum building more quickly than ever there’s never been a better time to join them.”

Fleets have embraced the environmental agenda over recent years and continue to be trailblazers where green initiatives are concerned.

For example, six in 10 fleets have already introduced CO2 emissions caps according to the latest Fleet News research (Fleet News, August 27).

Two main drivers are encouraging fleets to go green: Government taxation and customer demands.

Just over 70% of fleets say their company’s green credentials – including fleet policies – have become an important factor when tendering for business.

But, with transport a major contributor to greenhouse gases, the 10:10 campaign organisers hope that fleets will pledge to cut their emissions even further.

Royal Mail has become the latest major business to sign up to the climate change campaign and joins the likes of Waitrose and online supermarket Ocado.

Dr Martin Blake, head of sustainability at Royal Mail, said that the company planned to reduce its emissions by 50% by 2015.

“Our process is to avoid, reduce, replace and offset. So first we aim to avoid emitting carbon, for example by eliminating unnecessary journeys. Reduction will see us trying to cut the amount of fossil fuel we use. Replacement will see the fuel we use replaced with low or zero carbon equivalents. And finally, we’ll offset.”

During the next 12 months it intends to introduce a raft of measures, including: rolling out more double-decker delivery trucks, which enables more items to be carried per vehicle; improving route planning; and encouraging its staff to reduce their emissions at home, as well as at work.

Camden Council has also signed up to the 10:10 campaign, which builds on its existing plans to tackle its contribution to climate change.
Included, in its range of carbon cutting measures has been choosing to power 70% of its fleet with greener fuels, including the introduction of LPG and electric vehicles.

To find out more about the 10:10 campaign, visit www.1010uk.org.

Case study: Waitrose

“Transport has been the biggest challenge for us,” explained director of development Nigel Keen.

Waitrose’s fleet of 220 trucks have proved to be a real obstacle to reducing its energy consumption and, while the company is eager to move to electric vehicles, Keen says that the technology simply isn’t advanced enough yet.

Even so, through better logistics, sourcing food locally wherever possible to reduce the distance it travels and using more efficient engines in its vehicles, the company has managed reduce its transport related CO2 emissions by 7.5% in 2008 and it aims to double this by 2013.

“We have a long heritage of corporate and social responsibility,” adds Keen. “We believe our customers expect us to do the right thing and we work hard to make sure we don’t let them down.”

Since 2003, the company has reduced its energy consumption by 19% and so is on track to meet its target of 20% by 2010.