How Reducing Vehicle Emissions Is A Win For Your Business

Due to the desperate fight for climate control, customers are doing their bit by being more discerning in their choice of supplier, insofar as they are choosing businesses that have similar environmental values to their own. For example ‘flight shaming’ has worried the airline services industry, so much that avoiding a pandemic, became their top priority.

Airlines’ powers that be did some quick thinking and the outcome being more investment in new fuel-efficient aircraft, the use of carbon offset funds, and ongoing commitment to encourage travellers to pack light. Has it worked? Yes, flight travel is predicted to grow by 3.5% on average every year.

Auto Industry

So what about the auto industry? Is there such a thing as ‘car shaming’? No, it’s not a thing ‘yet’, and it may never happen, as vehicle manufacturers and tech entrepreneurs have already taken action with alternatives to fossil-fueled vehicles, like the electric and hydrogen vehicles.

Plus all new vehicles are more fuel-efficient and release fewer emissions than their earlier models; therefore our love of the motor car continues as a mode of transport much relied on not only for consumers but for many businesses too.

However, consumers want to know what business is doing for the environment. Your company can and should take steps to show your customers you’re doing all you can to reduce your own carbon footprint. Therefore this is the topic of this article, and now we mention a few simple yet effective solutions for businesses reliant on vehicle use.

Reroute Your Journeys

Being eco-friendly is a USP (unique selling point), and discerning customers are voting with their feet. For example, many consumers are choosing suppliers that have similar values and commitment to climate control. Therefore to stay competitive businesses are taking steps to show their customers they want a better environment for them and all Earth’s inhabitants. In the air travel industry flight paths have become more direct to reduce fuel usage, so we can do as they do but with our own fleet of vehicles and their business journeys.

• Reroute journeys to customer sites, warehouses, so they are more direct and efficient.
• Encourage your staff to spend less time in the car. Arrange appointments in the same location to occur on the same day rather than zigzagging across the country every day wasting fuel along the way.
• Use Google maps or another App to assist you to avoid traffic jams, stuck in traffic is not suitable for your carbon footprint.

Fuel Usage

Using less fuel saves money and equates to fewer emissions. Analysing your fuel usage will initially raise more questions than provide answers; however there’s a lot to gain from going through the process regularly.

What you’re looking for are ways to cut down on fuel usage and focusing on vehicle maintenance, might just do it.

Vehicle Performance

Your vehicles need to perform at their best to cost your business less in upkeep. Make sure you have a vehicle maintenance schedule and adhere to it so when the fleet is on the road it’s in excellent condition and as such burning less fuel.

Driver Behaviour

Also, look for inefficiencies and irregularities in fuel usage per vehicle. Are some drivers more aggressive and therefore burning through more gas than other drivers in your company?

Once you’ve identified the culprits impose a more moderate driving style. In next to no time at all, you’ll see fuel cost savings that are good for the bottom line, as well as less fuel consumption. Now you can confidently report fewer emissions, and put a big ‘tick’ in the eco-friendly’ box which will please your clients and target audience.

Driver Monitoring

Trusting your drivers to do the right thing all of the time, however, is not wise. Monitoring driver behaviour will curtail aggressive driving, but it will need to be reinforced with ongoing education and instruction. iComparo, in their article on eco-driving techniques, say using telematics or introducing fuel cards that come with an account management feature deliver feedback on fuel usage and driver behaviour. The data can be used to improve bottlenecks and identify the drivers that need further training and encouragement to change their aggressive driving style.

Summary

There is an opportunity to show your intended audience that your business is more environmentally conscious than your competition. Use your investment in eco-friendly practices to create a new USP for sales and marketing. Your customers will reward your new set of values by staying loyal, and they’re also more likely to recommend your business to their network too.

Reducing your business carbon footprint with a few quick and easy steps to manage your vehicle fleet and driver behaviour can be a big win for your business and the planet.