Advantages of reducing your vehicle emissions
How reducing vehicle emissions can benefit your business by reducing costs and improving your environmental performance.
Limiting your vehicle emissions can help you to reduce your environmental impact and benefit your business.
Emissions from vehicle exhausts are a significant source of air pollutants including:
- CO2
- carbon monoxide
- fine dust particles
- nitrogen oxides
- unburnt hydrocarbons
You should try to limit the emissions that your business vehicles produce as they may:
- lead to ill health, such as respiratory problems, among your staff and the public
- cause a nuisance to your neighbours
- contribute to roadside levels of pollution in urban centres
- contribute to climate change
You can also reduce your transport costs, such as fuel bills and vehicle tax, by choosing vehicles that are more environmentally friendly and using them more efficiently.
Financial savings
By using vehicles more efficiently you can make significant financial savings through:
- reduced fuel costs
- less wear and tear and maintenance costs
- using your employees' time more efficiently
- finding new uses for land previously used for parking
Improved business image
Reducing your environmental impact can help to demonstrate corporate social responsibility.
Awareness of environmental issues is growing, and customers, investors and other stakeholders increasingly prefer to deal with businesses that have good environmental credentials. Having environmental policies and procedures in place is likely to be viewed positively and can also help you win contracts when you tender for business.
Employee benefits
Educating your employees about the environmental impacts of transport and encouraging them to walk, cycle or use public transport for commuting and business travel can benefit their health and finances. It may also contribute to reduced sickness absence, increased staff retention and improved local air quality.
A cost-effective way for you to put these policies in place is to draw up a workplace travel plan.
Training your employees to drive safely and efficiently and to maintain vehicles can help reduce vehicle emissions and the number of work-related road incidents. Employees also benefit from a cleaner and safer environment and save money if they drive work vehicles more efficiently.