Ride carbon neutral
GRAB a ride with the first carboNZero Cert TM certified taxi service in New Zealand. It’s easy because it’s Wellington’s Combined Taxi Company.
Marketing coordinator Ani de Graaf says the
company has been working towards carboNZero certification for two years.
To achieve the status, they reduced carbon consumption in all areas of the business including fuel usage, electricity in the office and air travel.
Combined Taxis now only purchase hybrid, diesel or LPG cars for the 442-strong fleet. Within six years there will be no petrol-only cars left in the business – and it doesn’t stop there.
“Our office isn’t very big, but we try and make it more paperless and turn the lights and computers off,” de Graaf says. “Our drivers have taken the scheme on board and even have competitions amongst themselves as to who can be most fuel efficient.”
Any unavoidable emissions are offset.
This means for every tonne of emissions, Combined Taxis buy a carbon credit and the money goes to Tararua Wind Farm – New Zealand’s largest.
After all the hard work, Landcare Research, New Zealand’s environmental research organisation, certified the taxi company as reaching CarboNZero certified status.
The process hasn’t been cheap, costing Combined Taxis hundreds of thousands of dollars, but de Graaf says it’s worth it to deliver what customers want in the growing green market.
“We won’t pass [the cost] onto our customers, there’ll be no change to that,” she says. “We’re more than happy to shout our success from the rooftops. We’re going to be officially presented with our carboNZero
CertTM certificate and we’ve invited heaps of corporate and government clients and councillors.”
Celebrate with Combined Taxis at Rutherford and Bond Toyota, Kent Terrace, 6pm, June 18.
Wellington Combined Taxis goes carboNZero Cert TM
Wellington Combined Taxis NZ's 1st CarboNZero certified Taxi Service
Two years ago Wellington Combined Taxis set out to become NZ's 1st carboNZero certified taxi service and they have achieved that status. It is not an easy feat by any means.... taking cars in the fleet and turning them from petrol to more eco friendly fuel options is a challenge that requires support and dedication from all involved. Landcare Research Ltd's "carboNZero" certification is not just a label that you can put on your car or taxi to say you are green..... it's based on real and solid science and Wellington Combined Taxis had to meet the strict testing requirements to become credited with such a title.
The evening attracted members of parliament, local council representatives, clients and staff of Wellington Combined Taxis. It was great to be around people who walk the talk when it comes to climate change and our environment. Someone needs to lead the charge and Wellington Combined Taxis have.... NZ's 1st carboNZero certified taxi service. Congratulations!
Get a safe ride home in a carboNZero
Cert TM taxi if you've had too good of a night...
Phone: 384 4444
www.taxis.co.nz
CONGRATULATIONS!
The carboNZeroCertTM programme is proud to announce that Wellington Combined Taxis is the first taxi service in New Zealand to achieve carbon neutral certification.
It's no secret … given the nature of their business, Wellington Combined Taxis is well aware that they have a direct impact on the local environment. With encouragement from the Mayor, local business leaders, their customers and a clear understanding that climate change has shifted into a new gear they decided to embark on a journey toward carbon neutrality. It wasn’t an easy ride, as a perceived large emitter Wellington Combined Taxis knew that they would face numerous challenges …. They expected scepticism from some quarters at their attempt to measure let alone reduce their carbon footprint and concern over possible increased costs from their loyal customers. Therefore it was vital that they engaged the highest level of credibility and integrity so these challenges were overcome and to ensure they steered clear of Greenwash. They chose the world’s first internationally accredited greenhouse gas (GHG) certification scheme, the carboNZero
Cert TM programme managed by government owned Landcare Research. It is also the only accredited ISO14065 GHG verifier outside of the USA to measure and manage (reduce) their emissions and operating costs, then offset their remaining unavoidable emissions by cancelling credible and verified carbon credits from the Tararua II windpower project.
There were no shortcuts on this journey, nor should there be. It was the commitment and dedication from everyone at Wellington Combined Taxis that meant they were able to achieve the highest standards in GHG certification and become the first taxi service in New Zealand to achieve certified carbon neutrality.
Please join us in congratulating Wellington Combined Taxis in this significant achievement.
