Shell has launched a carbon offsetting scheme for its UK fuel card customers.

The programme will allow fleets to offset the CO2 emissions from their fuel purchases at more than 1,000 Shell-branded service stations and third-party networks.

Sarah Llewelyn, UK sales director for Shell Fleet Solutions, said: “There is increasing demand placed on our fleet customers to reduce their emissions and be accountable for their environmental performance.

“The ability to offset the emissions of their fleet through the use of their Shell card is one way we can help them take action on this now.”

Fleet customers which opt in to the carbon offsetting will use their fuel card as usual. Shell will track the fuel usage and resulting CO2 emissions, and then offset them by purchasing carbon credits generated from projects that protect and regenerate forests.

An offsetting service cost tied to customer’s fuel usage will be added to their usual consolidated invoice.

Customers will also annually receive a Verified Carbon Reduction Certificate detailing the total CO2 emissions from their fleet that have been offset through the scheme.

The programme will also contribute to Shell’s ambition to reduce its own net carbon footprint, which covers the company’s emissions from finding and producing oil and gas and manufacturing products, as well as customers’ emissions from their use of the products they buy from Shell.

The carbon offsetting scheme will be launched in the UK on October 17. It has already been rolled out to fleet customers in a number of markets, including France and Belgium.

Shell has sourced some carbon credits from within the UK, including the Overkirkhope Project in the Scottish borders and the Longwood Project in Cumbria.

However, the company says the UK market for carbon credits is small, so these will be supplemented by credits purchased from projects globally, including Cordillera Azul National Park Project in Peru, Katingan Peatland Restoration and Conservation Project in Indonesia and GreenTrees Reforestation Project in the USA.

In June, Shell launched Shell Go+, a new rewards programme available to all fleets, based on station visits rather than points.

The programme, accessible via the Shell app, provides rewards on selected food and drink ranges and savings on fuel every 10 visits.

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