A Hull-based national car retailer is claiming a UK industry first as it offsets emissions of every used vehicle it sells for the first year of ownership.
Motor Depot has partnered with carbon streaming service iOffset in what is described as a ground-breaking initiative.
All used cars sold in the 11 showrooms across the UK, and through its CarSupermaket.com online brand, will be subject to the procedure, on the platform endorsed by the United Nations Climate Change panel.
Steve Butterley, managing director of the Hessle-headquartered firm, said: “We are delighted to be able to bring this product to market. For many of the thousands of customers that visit our showrooms and forecourts every month, the prospect of an electric car is impractical and early-adopter pricing is out of reach.
“Modern eco-conscious car shoppers are desperate to do the right thing, but to date have not had a viable alternative to the traditional used car. Used cars are an eco-friendlier option than a new car simply by the nature of being a recycled product and we’ve now brought to market a new type of used car in partnership with iOffset, one with the emissions offset for the first year or 10,000 miles of ownership, as a UK industry first.”
Leading carbon footprint expert, Professor Mike Berners-Lee, and his team Small World Consulting, helped develop iOffset’s carbon use examples to enable people to make lifestyle choices that reduce their carbon footprint and for businesses to better understand the impact of their emissions.
Through the contributions iOffset funds some of the world’s leading high impact carbon reduction projects accredited by Gold Standard (WWF) and the United Nations.
Mark Hammond, founder, said: “Our mission is to spearhead an international carbon reduction and offsetting culture, making it easy and affordable for individuals and businesses to reduce and offset their unavoidable emissions. I congratulate Motor Depot for being the first in the auto retail market in the UK to embark on this as part of their service, and hopefully this initiative will be a catalyst for many dealers and other businesses around the world to push forward more environmentally-friendly operations on the journey to net zero.”
It is anticipated that 60,000 tonnes of CO2 will be offset, based on selling 2,000 cars a month.
Depending on offset project level, it could represent a £400,000 investment.
