Cape Town-based MiX Telematics, a provider of vehicle tracking and fleet management solutions, has launched a service that offers fleet operators a secure way to offset the greenhouse gas emissions caused by their fleets.

The MiX Telematics MiX Carbon Offset Initiative (COI) solution helps customers who wish to reduce their CO2 emissions or make their fleets carbon neutral, but are unsure of how best to achieve this.

COI is also suitable for those customers who are unable to assign the necessary resources required to implement an effective carbon reduction initiative with long-term value.

MiX Telematics has also become carbon neutral and is voluntarily submitting a response to the Carbon Disclosure Project for 2011, a globally recognised non-profit organisation which allows leading organisations to disclose their CO2 emissions for climate change analysis.

The road transport industry alone is responsible for 18 per cent of global CO2 emissions, a statement said.

“Considering this statistic and the fact that we service the fleets in this industry, the decision to get involved in carbon offsetting came as a natural step towards sustainability,” said Charles Tasker, managing director, MiX Telematics (International).

Helping customers reduce their carbon footprint ties in well with MiX Telematics’ offerings that enable customers to reduce fuel consumption, minimise fleet maintenance and operating costs, and make significant improvements in overall productivity and driver safety, he added.

“Although carbon offsetting is not compulsory, it is in our collective best interest to help secure a healthy future for our business and our customers’ operations, the surrounding environment and community,” concluded Tasker.

Kevin James, CEO of Global Carbon Exchange, a leading sustainability consultancy, said: “Companies like MiX Telematics that are proactively forging ahead on their green journey and now extending a carbon offset solution to customers are setting the pace among key industry players.”

“Although MiX Telematics’ COI falls within the voluntary offset market, it can be considered a strategic move as it serves to mitigate future risk of non-compliance and carbon taxes. In addition, the innovative nature of the MiX Carbon Offset Initiative resembles a new and meaningful way for MiX Telematics to engage with their growing, global enterprise customer base,” James added. – TradeArabia News Service