With its ‘Driving to Zero’ update, LeasePlan takes its
sustainability ambitions to the next level.
In 2017, LeasePlan changed the fleet industry’s discussion on low
emission mobility when it announced its ambition to achieve net
zero tailpipe emissions from its funded fleet by 2030 through the
uptake of electric vehicles (EVs). Since then, LeasePlan has made
strong progress on its commitment, growing the total number
of EVs in its fleet by 800%. Even so, the ever-worsening climate
emergency, combined deeply entrenched social injustices,
means that the time has come again for LeasePlan to set a new
standard in the industry for doing what is right for the planet
and our people.
“A real ESG revolution is underway,” says Mike Lightfoot,
Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability officer at LeasePlan
Corporation. “While this validates our industry leading strategy
to transition our fleet to EVs, we need to make sure we remain on
top of our stakeholders’ growing expectations in all areas of
Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) issues, and actively
work to address them as part of our broader sustainability
efforts.”
With this in mind, at the UN COP26 meeting in Glasgow,
LeasePlan introduced its new ‘Driving to Zero’ sustainability
strategy update, which broadens its focus from car tailpipe
emissions to all of today’s important ESG challenges. Key
highlights of the update include a commitment to create
science-based abatement pathways for all of LeasePlan’s
GHG emissions and to formally integrate climate-related
and environmental risks into our strategy, risk management
framework and disclosures.
At the same time, LeasePlan is enhancing its strategy for
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) with new initiatives for
gender equality and a range of targeted policies to support
LeasePlanners from minority groups, including an inclusive
benefits policy for our LGBTQI+ colleagues. Lastly, LeasePlan
is also introducing a new global ESG procurement charter
to help drive up ESG standards right across the value chain.
“We hope that more corporates, including our colleagues in
the fleet industry, follow our lead and take concrete action
to build a more sustainable, inclusive world,” says Mike.