About the program
Mercedes-Benz Cars now offsets the carbon emissions associated with the first three months of new vehicle ownership via our offset partner Climate Positive. This initiative contributes to Daimler AG's global commitment to sustainability.
By funding the first three months of our customers’ driving emissions we give our customers an environmental ‘kick-start’.
After three months of complimentary offsetting by Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific Pty Ltd, each vehicle owner is invited to take individual action against climate change and can choose to continue offsetting their vehicle emissions.
Mercedes-Benz Cars piloted an offset program on our eco-star performer, smart, in early 2006. In January 2007, we expanded our carbon offsetting across the entire Mercedes-Benz, smart and Maybach passenger car range.
How do we offset C02?
Mercedes-Benz Cars is sourcing its carbon offsets from Climate Positive, a not-for-profit climate change organisation specialising in high-quality, accredited carbon offsets for businesses and households.
Climate Positive sources a combination of accredited, verified emission offsets. These include Australian Renewable Energy Certificates and Accredited Verified Emissions Reductions. One hundred per cent of the greenhouse gas footprint is accounted for through investment in these high-quality, verified emission reduction projects.
A Renewable Energy Certificate represents 1 mega-watt hour of renewable power and replaces the need to use coal-fired electricity by supporting renewable projects, for example, wind energy.
An Accredited Verified Emission Reduction is a certificate that represents one tonne of CO2 that has been prevented from entering the atmosphere. These certificates may be accredited under one of a number of schemes including the Gold Standard, Greenhouse Friendly, New South Wales Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme and the Voluntary Carbon Standard.
Not only do all of these certificates represent real time, measurable, permanent and independently certified carbon offsets, they help the planet make the transition to a low-carbon economy and may also have the added benefit of funding the renewable energy industry.
In addition to neutralising the emissions in real time, Climate Positive, on behalf of Mercedes-Benz Cars, goes one step further and plants carbon-absorbing, locally indigenous trees to recreate some of Australia's most majestic forests. Over time, these forests will make the carbon emission equation a positive one, and you will become Climate Positive.
Visit the Climate Positive website below to find out more about how you can offset your carbon footprint.
How do we calculate the offset?
Carbon offset is calculated based on each individual vehicles' registered carbon emission output (in grams) during a combined cycle per kilometre, multiplied by the average kilometres travelled in three months by the average Australian passenger car driver.
The average kilometres travelled is gained from the last ABS Survey of Motor Vehicle use in Australia which states that the average Australian in 2007 drove an average 13,700kms per year. Mercedes-Benz base calculations on a rounded-up 14,000km then take one quarter of this distance to calculate average kilometres travelled in a three month period. Actual kilometres travelled will vary from driver to driver.
