An environmental charity and sustainable energy supplier are calling on van fleets to clean up their vehicles over the next 10 years.

The Clean Van Commitment (CVC) is asking 100 van fleet operators to promise to be tailpipe emission-free in cities by 2028 – switching their vehicles to greener alternatives such as electric. 

The Clean Van Commitment, a partnership between the charity Global Action Plan and energy and services provider Engie, has developed out of Clean Air Day, a national day of action on dirty air, which takes place on June 21 this year.  

Bex Bolland, head of air quality at Global Action Plan, said: “Joining the commitment requires no fee and is a demonstration of your leadership in tackling air pollution. This voluntary step is an important way to address the largest contributor to air pollution from road transport – diesel vehicles.

“By joining the CVC the top operators will be not only doing their bit for cleaner air, but sending a strong signal to industry and Government to get on board too.”

Engie pledged on Clean Air Day 2017 to cut its diesel vehicles to zero by 2025 and is already phasing in electric vehicles (EVs) across its 1,825-strong fleet. The company is now encouraging others to commit to zero tailpipe emissions in cities and tackle the worst pollution.

Jamie Quinn, corporate responsibility and environment director at Engie, said: “As well as making long-term financial sense for the business, the driving factor behind was the need to address poor air quality in urban areas – improving both the environment and people’s health.”

Bolland added: “If dozens of companies controlling a sizeable amount of the UK van fleet send a strong signal of their desire to use low-emission vans, we could hugely reduce pollution from the UK’s van fleets in years, not decades.”

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