Donlen, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and GreenDriver announced that they are collaborating on a multi-year Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Commitment to Action titled, "Commercial Fleet 20% GHG Emissions Reduction." This commitment indicates a pledge by all three organizations to work together to transform the environmental impact of the fleet industry.
CGI commitments are designed to promote global corporate citizenship through the development of business practices that encourage sustainability, foster education, improve health, and stimulate global economies. These commitments create innovative partnerships between corporations and nonprofits to accomplish their goals through new, specific, and measureable business strategies.
Donlen, North America's fastest growing and most innovative fleet leasing and management company, will work with clients and other companies to baseline fleet emissions and create actionable emissions reductions plans to increase fuel efficiency, reduce miles traveled, utilize low-carbon fuels, and deploy technologically advanced vehicles. As a result, companies will reduce fuel expenditures, petroleum consumption, and global climate change emissions.
EDF will assist Donlen by validating its data collection process, reduction strategies, and methodology. Donlen will also utilize GreenDriver online training and behavior management programs to help commercial and government fleets reduce their carbon dioxide emissions and fuel costs by focusing on the greatest variable in a vehicle's fuel efficiency: the driver.
Donlen, EDF, and GreenDriver invite and encourage their clients, large commercial fleets, and other fleet management companies, suppliers, and vendors to join in this important effort. There are nearly three million vehicles in U.S. corporate fleets; industry-wide participation in this effort could eliminate more than 10 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
"The transportation industry is responsible for 28 percent of the overall greenhouse gas emissions in the United States," said Gary Rappeport, Donlen CEO. "As a leader in the fleet management industry, it's important that Donlen takes the initiative to help reduce commercial fleet GHG on a broader scale. The Clinton Global Initiative offers us the perfect venue to address this critically important issue, and we're proud to collaborate with EDF to be part of the larger work of CGI."
As part of Donlen's Commitment to Action, Rappeport joins other notable leaders who are members of CGI through commitments on behalf of their respective organizations, including Fred Krupp, president, EDF; Indra K. Nooyi, chairman and CEO, PepsiCo; Carlos Ghosn, chairman and CEO, Renault-Nissan Alliance; Bill Gates, co-chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; and Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO, Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated.
"Many opportunities exist today for companies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicle fleets while cutting costs," said Jason Mathers, project manager, Environmental Defense Fund. "Time and again, we have seen that a smart, performance-based structure is critical to achieving success. This commitment through the Clinton Global Initiative is a shining example of such a structure. We applaud Donlen and GreenDriver for taking a central role in coordinating this commitment and are proud to work with them on this effort."
For more information about Donlen's Commitment to Action, please contact Dan Hannan, senior vice president of sustainability and product development at (847) 412-5402 or visit www.donlen.com/clinton-global-initiative.aspx.
