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London’s black cabs 'go green'
Posted: 08 Jun 2005

The Radio Taxis Group, with a fleet of over 3,000 world famous London black cabs and 80 executive cars, announced today that it is 'going green' with a comprehensive policy to cut emissions and become CarbonNeutral®.

The Group will measure and reduce its Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions - and offset the remaining unavoidable emissions through renewable energy projects in Sri Lanka and Bulgaria and sustainable forestry projects in the UK and Germany.

Together the projects will save and absorb some 24,000 tonnes of CO2 at a cost of around £100,000 per annum - an equivalent tonnage to that emitted by the business ensuring that its net emissions are zero and that it is CarbonNeutral.

In what may become a watershed announcement Radio Taxis Group is the first major transport business to commit to cover not only the emissions produced by offices and operations - but also to take responsibility for all emissions created by the 3.8 million passengers who order, or hail, one of its cabs every year.

Mayor's welcome

London Mayor Ken Livingstone, speaking at the launch said:“I congratulate Radio Taxis on making this commitment – and hope many other London businesses will follow their lead.

"I recently announced rigorous new emissions standards for London’s 20,000 black cabs to help tackle air pollution in London. Rather than complaining, I am delighted that Radio Taxis have decided to go even further and tackle carbon emissions right across their operations. Climate change is the biggest challenge facing the planet. Radio Taxis actions demonstrate that forward-thinking businesses have an important role to play in creating a sustainable future.”

The project, led by Future Forests, started with an independent audit of emissions by The Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Management. Its report calculated the business’s ‘carbon footprint’ at almost 24,000 tonnes CO2 per annum and put forward strategies for reduction of these emissions at source.

Andrew Herbert, Director at Radio Taxis Group, commented: “Facing up to climate change makes business sense. Our corporate customers are increasingly concerned about sustainability in their supply chain, and our private customers, whether booking through the telephone or hailing us on the street, can be assured that this is the most environmentally responsible and safest taxi journey they can take.”

The Group is also switching to ‘green’ electricity for its offices and adopting a company-wide environmental policy addressing energy, waste and transport.