Bandago Carbon Neutral Initiative

On June 18th, 2007, Bandago is pleased to announce that we have become the first auto rental company in the United States to become certified as Carbon Neutral. This is not a perfect solution, as ideally we would have emission free vans available for rental. But it is an important step in the right direction, and we hope that the leadership role we have taken on this issue will inspire other companies in the auto rental industry to follow suit.

Here is the text of the press release:

Van Rental Company Bandago Rocks The Road With DriveNeutral

Nonprofit Helps Van Rental Company Offset Entire U.S. Fleet

San Francisco, CA – June 18, 2007 – With the help of DriveNeutral, the only nonprofit organization that helps members offset their carbon dioxide exclusively through the Chicago Climate Exchange, Bandago Van Rentals 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.

The vehicles are used on tours both regionally and nationwide by bands, including recent clients Interpol, Dinosaur Jr., Sick Puppies and Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. The CEO and founder, Sharky Laguana (a former major label musician himself with Dreamworks recording act Creeper Lagoon), was determined to reduce the company’s entire climate footprint, as well as that of their customers who use the vehicles, by going carbon neutral

“We are working with DriveNeutral because we know their carbon offsets are going to fund projects and practices that truly reduce the amount of carbon dioxide going into the atmosphere,” Laguana says. “Currently, like other van rental companies, Bandago does not have the option of buying 100 percent pollution-free vehicles. However, we can still make a positive contribution and think that carbon offsetting is one of the best opportunities for us as well as for our clients who are also concerned about climate change. As a company, we are fully committed to finding the best solutions we can to make the world a better place.”

By participating in DriveNeutral, Bandago excpects to offset 823 metric tons of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to taking nearly 240 passenger vehicles off the road for a year. The membership with DriveNeutral is ideal for the company, which operates as an environmentally sustainable business with offices close to employees’ homes, employs solar energy at it’s San Francisco headquarters and has purchased carbon credits to offset the energy used by all of its offices and locations nationwide. DriveNeutral provides individuals and organizations the ability to take global responsibility for emissions through market-based carbon offsetting programs.

To neutralize the greenhouse gasses produced by its vehicles, Laguana first determined the company’s climate footprint, or the measurable amount of CO2 emissions made by his company, using the CO2 calculator on DriveNeutral.org. This was done by estimating the mileage used for his entire fleet in one year. Through his partnership with DriveNeutral, the company then purchased and retired credits for that same amount through the Chicago Climate Exchange (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 really excited to work with Bandago because they are taking swift and meaningful action to offset all of their vehicles for their clients, as well as the entire company,” says Jason Smith, co-founder and executive director of DriveNeutral. “This demonstrates how easy it is for any company to make a remarkable commitment to significantly reduce their impact on the climate.”

DriveNeutralTM
DriveNeutral is a non-profit enterprise of Presidio School of Management in San Francisco. Created in 2005 by MBA students at Presidio, DriveNeutral is the only venture of its kind that serves individuals and businesses by exclusively using CO2 credits traded on the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX). DriveNeutral trades your donation for real, third-party verified reductions that reduce below today’s level of global warming emissions. These CO2 reduction projects and practices include energy efficiency, renewable energy, agricultural sequestration and reforestation projects. DriveNeutral has worked with KQED, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, the University of Colorade, Ogilvy PR and many others to help take responsibility for personal emissions while driving greater change in the marketplace. For more information, visit www.DriveNeutral.org, call 415.561.1170 or email info@DriveNeutral.org.

Bandago Van Rentals
Bandago is a provider of full-size vans for rental by the touring musicians, mobile marketers and the general public for use on long trips and tours. Bandago specializes in customized vehicles featuring LCD screens, game systems, iPod support, separate cargo holds and more. Bandago is the first carbon neutral auto rental company in the U.S. For more information, visit www.Bandago.com.

 

All contents © 2007 Bandago