Van Rental Firm Bandago Offsets Carbon Footprint with DriveNeutral
SAN FRANCISCO--With the help of DriveNeutral, the only nonprofit that helps members offset their carbon dioxide exclusively through the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), Bandago Van Rentals (www.bandago.com) is the first auto rental company in the United States to offset the entire amount of carbon dioxide produced by its nationwide fleet of vehicles. Bandago specializes in servicing the music industry, but also serves the general public, renting 15 passenger vans as well as top of the line Dodge Sprinter vans that have been customized for touring musicians.
“We are working with DriveNeutral because we know its carbon offsets are going to fund projects and practices that truly reduce the amount of carbon dioxide going into the atmosphere,” said Sharky Laguana, CEO and founder of Bandago and a former major label musician. “Like other van rental companies, Bandago currently does not have the option of buying 100 percent pollution-free vehicles; but with DriveNeutral we can still make a positive contribution to climate change.”
Laguana is determined to reduce the company’s entire climate footprint, as well as that of their customers who use the vehicles, by going carbon neutral. By participating in DriveNeutral, Bandago expects to offset 823 metric tons of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to taking nearly 240 passenger vehicles off the road for a year. “Bandago is fully committed to finding the best solutions possible to make the world a better place,” Laguana said.
To neutralize the greenhouse gasses produced by its vehicles, Laguana determined the company’s climate footprint, using the CO2 calculator on DriveNeutral.org. He estimated the mileage used for his entire fleet in one year. Through his partnership with DriveNeutral, credits were purchased and retired for that same amount through the CCX, North America’s first large scale market for greenhouse gas reductions. Carbon dioxide, or CO2, is the main greenhouse gas affecting climate change.
“We are excited to work with Bandago because they are taking swift and meaningful action to offset all of its vehicles for its clients, as well as the entire company,” said Jason Smith, co-founder and executive director of DriveNeutral, which provides individuals and organizations the ability to take global responsibility for emissions through market-based carbon offsetting programs.
For information about DriveNeutral, visit www.DriveNeutral.org, call 415.561.1170 or email info@DriveNeutral.org.