FleetCard™ introduce a carbon offset program through Greenfleet

One of only 17 countries to have the “mega-diverse” classification, Australia’s ecosystem contributes significantly to the world’s overall biodiversity. Our geographic isolation means that for many species that have found habitat in Australia, they could not exist anywhere else in the world.

As we start seeing more extreme weather conditions such as bushfires and floods, a resilient and biodiverse ecosystem is more important than ever as it can remain functional through disturbance, offering an enduring habitat to the endangered species that have found home in Australia. With environmental concerns top of mind for 69% of consumers, it is imperative that businesses undertake purposeful initiatives to address climate change.

Partnering with Greenfleet, a leading not-for-profit environmental organisation that delivers climate action in Australia and New Zealand, FleetCard is proud to be the first multi-branded fuel card in the country to introduce a carbon offset program for its Australian customers. ecoDRIVE enables businesses to offset the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by their fleets through forest restoration projects.

The reforestation projects are delivered by Greenfleet’s Revegetation Team to ensure that a range of locally native species is planted, providing the right foundation for a complex forest to emerge in a particular region.

One of the major projects we participated in was planting at the Aroona site in Queensland. Across this 2000-hectare property in South-East Queensland, Greenfleet employed a unique mix of ecological processes suited for the site. This includes cool burning, aerial seeding, and traditional planting practices. Ecological cool burn, in particular, is effective in preserving native seeds and nutrients while managing weeds and overgrowth, helping create complex and resilient habitats. The Aroona site is an innovative project that proves sustainable agriculture and climate action can effectively co-exist.

Another project we’ve supported with Greenfleet is Glendalough. A 240-hectare property in South Gippsland, Victoria, where native revegetation and sustainable agriculture is going hand in hand. In 2023, some of the Business Fuel Cards Team participated in a tree planting event at Glendalough helping plant hundreds of native trees as a part of the project.

Since our partnership started with Greenfleet, we have contributed to more than 20 reforestation sites across Australia, spanning New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. Through this process, Greenfleet has been our trusted expert partner who brought us into the world of environmental conservation, with tangible results that we can see as the ecosystems are revitalised.

Before starting work on a site, Greenfleet looks at what an area would have been like prior to land clearing. Often the land has been farmed heavily and/or cleared more than 100 years ago so the environment has seriously degraded. It then plants native biodiverse forests to restore critical ecosystems and capture carbon emissions on behalf of its supporters.

Annabel O’Neill, Deputy CEO of Greenfleet, says that we all need to take climate action in one way or another.

“Corporate organisations have a great opportunity to lead climate action in the community.”

“These organisations can increase their positive impact on the environment by proactively working to reduce their carbon emissions,” Annabel said.

Over 25 years of operating, Greenfleet has planted more than 10.8 million native trees and created 550 native forests that will sequester 4.9 million tonnes of carbon across their lifetime. Their native forests are legally protected and span 10,950 hectares; you can download their 2023 Impact Report here.

If you would like to make your fleet more environmentally friendly, you can sign up to ecoDRIVE and offset your fleet’s carbon emissions, helping to create a greener tomorrow. Head to ecoDRIVE to find out more.