KEA Achieves Enviro Certification

12/1/2010 7:57:18 PM

Hot off the back of our Qualmark Enviro-Gold Rating, KEA New Zealand has once again been recognised for our commitment to the environment by being awarded carbonNZero (CertTM) certification as part of the KEAgreen environmental programme.

The carboNZero programme is the world’s first internationally accredited greenhouse gas (GHG) certification scheme for organisations, products, services and events. Run by Landcare Research in New Zealand, it focuses on the measurement, management (reduction) and mitigation (offset) of GHG emissions.

Following a management and reduction plan which was developed in conjunction with the carboNZero programme, there was an external audit of all emissions relating to KEA's rental and sales business. As a result corporate emissions, including customer fuel use, flights, courtesy transport, electricity use and waste, for year ending June 2008 were offset by purchasing verified carbon credits from the TrustPower Tararua ll Windpower project in Manawatu. In the future there is a view to reduce all emissions further.

“As an industry leader, KEA considers it vital to show our commitment to environmental sustainability by achieving carboNZero certification for our organisation,” said KEA CEO, Grant Brady.

“We are confident that the methodology and expertise we have access to through the carboNZero programme will assist us in truly reducing our emissions and developing a sustainable plan for the future.”

KEA’s management and reduction plan includes a strategy to reduce kilometres per hire by improving fleet management, increasing minimum hire days and increasing the use of GPS.

“While water recycling and alternative energy sources will be the focus of KEA’s corporate initiatives in 2010, in the longer term we plan to work with vehicle manufacturers to encourage the production of more efficient vehicles, and introduce a lighter, more aerodynamic motorhome to our fleet,” Mr Brady said.

KEA currently has the most environmentally-friendly vehicles in the industry. Every vehicle features solar paneling, renewable materials, the most advanced emission control standards, best-practice waste management systems and the lowest fuel consumption rates of any campervan rental company across Australia, New Zealand and Southern Africa.

Established in 2001, the carboNZero programme is based on over a decade of research on climate change, greenhouse gas measurement and carbon monitoring. A practical approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the programme provides the tools and robust certification process to assist individuals, organisations and events to reduce their carbon footprint.

For more information on KEA’s environmental initiatives, contact Grant Brady on +64 9 441 7833 or visit www.keagreen.co.nz. For information on carbonNZero certification, visit www.carbonzero.co.nz.