GreenFleet Program
"We were happy to help Abbott reassess its fleet to improve efficiency, cut fuel use, offset gas emissions and save money. This is great green business strategy. We urge other companies to follow Abbott's example."
Gwen Ruta,
Director of Corporate Partnerships,
Environmental Defense
GreenFleet Initiative
As part of our 2010 goals program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) to 10 percent below 2004 levels, Abbott integrated environmental criteria into the overall management of our U.S. fleet vehicles. We partnered with Environmental Defense, a leading environmental advocacy group, and PHH Arval, our fleet leasing provider, to offer many Abbott employees greener vehicle options when it comes to selecting a company car. We were the first client to participate in the pilot program, which helps companies identify the most cost-effective methods of lowering CO2 emissions in their fleet operations.
Corporate fleet vehicles are driven an average of 25,000 miles per year – nearly double the mileage, fuel consumption and emissions of personal vehicles. As a result, fleet vehicles are major consumers of oil and gasoline and sources of air pollution. Abbott's fleet accounts for approximately 12 percent of our emissions.
To make the new green fleet vehicles as appealing to drivers as possible, we offered upgrade incentives such as satellite radio and sunroofs, and clearly communicated with drivers about the environmental impact of their choices.
As a result, approximately 20 percent of our eligible drivers (nearly 200 employees) selected more fuel-efficient vehicles. While data are still preliminary, Abbott's fleet miles-per-gallon has improved by 4.3 percent; greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by 4.2 percent; and overall cost is down 4.1 percent.*
Each new vehicle buying cycle offers the opportunity to re-evaluate our fleet and expand driver incentives to encourage greater participation in the program. We will continue our efforts in 2007, with a number of new options and improvements such as a limited offering of 4-wheel drive SUVs only in Snow Belt states.
| * | Data includes vehicles acquired through the fall 2006 buy cycle, compared to the fall 2005 buy cycle. |
