Van fleets called to join Clean Van Commitment

Environmental charity Global Action Plan and sustainable energy supplier Engie are calling on van fleets to be zero-emission in their city operations by 2028.

The Clean Van Commitment (CVC) is asking 100 of the largest van fleet operators to switch to vehicles with zero-emission capabilities, such as electric or hybrid, in a bid to improve air quality in cities.

This initiative has been launched as part of Clean Air Day on June 21 this year.

Bex Bolland, head of air quality at Global Action Plan, said: “Joining the commitment requires no fee and is a demonstration of your leadership in tackling air pollution. This voluntary step is an important way to address the largest contributor to air pollution from road transport – diesel vehicles.

“By joining the CVC the top operators will be not only doing their bit for cleaner air, but sending a strong signal to industry and Government to get on board too.”

Engie pledged on Clean Air Day 2017 to cut its diesel vehicles to zero by 2025 and is already phasing in electric vehicles (EVs) across its 1,825-strong fleet. The company is now encouraging others to commit to zero tailpipe emissions in cities and tackle the worst pollution.

Jamie Quinn, corporate responsibility and environment director at Engie, said: “As well as making long-term financial sense for the business, the driving factor behind was the need to address poor air quality in urban areas – improving both the environment and people’s health.”

Bolland added: “If dozens of companies controlling a sizeable amount of the UK van fleet send a strong signal of their desire to use low-emission vans, we could hugely reduce pollution from the UK’s van fleets in years, not decades.”