First China dealership certified carbon neutral | News

Rising levels of car ownership and ambitious targets to cut carbon emissions are part of the challenge facing China as it continues to develop and grow. The country is the world’s largest car producer and distributor - with 28 million new vehicles sold in 2018. China’s government aims to cut the country’s carbon emissions per unit of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 60-65% from 2005 levels by 2030

Castrol and bp Target Neutral are working to help car dealerships and their customers across China to cut emissions and deliver positive environmental benefits that also support socio-economic development in communities around the world.

The Volvo workshop of Zhongsheng Group, in the city of Shanghai, has become the first dealership in China to be certified as carbon neutral through the Castrol Sustainability Program.

Zhongsheng Volvo is part of one of China’s largest vehicle distributors, Zhongsheng Group, which is aiming to reduce emissions by becoming more efficient and then offsetting any unavoidable emissions. The Castrol programme is designed to help dealerships to do this and assist their motoring customers to reduce their environmental impact from driving.

For Zhongsheng Volvo, achieving certification as carbon neutral has meant reducing and offsetting an annual carbon footprint of 554 tonnes of carbon from its daily operating business–equivalent to the carbon emissions of 274 flights from Shanghai to London.

After efficiency measures have been put in place, carbon credits will be used to enable the business to become carbon neutral. The credits will be purchased through bp Target Neutral which invests in carbon reduction projects around the world. One carbon credit is equivalent to one tonne of carbon reduced or avoided.

bp Target Neutral has access to a portfolio of carbon reduction projects which not only reduce emissions but also contribute to improving the lives of millions of people through better access to energy, health, education, and jobs.

Projects such as a renewable biogas project in South Western China not only reduce the amount of firewood or coal needed for rural households but can also have a very positive impact on respiratory health with families able to switch away from cooking on open fires.

With a personal interest in sustainability and low carbon, Zhouxin, General Manager of Brand at Zhongsheng Group, welcomed the new cooperation with Castrol and bp Target Neutral:

In the past decade or so, China and the world have been promoting sustainable development. Zhongsheng Group has been actively paying attention to environmental protection and constantly thinking about whether we can make more effort. Castrol’s commitment in this area is in line with our own which is why we believe that the cooperation between our two parties can make a real addition to China's broader environmental protection efforts.”s area is in line with our own which is why we believe that the cooperation between our two parties can make a real addition to China's broader environmental protection efforts.”

Andrea Abrahams, global director of bp Target Neutral said:

We’re delighted to be working with Zhongsheng Volvo as part of the Castrol programme. Carbon offsetting in combination with steps to cut carbon emissions through business efficiency brings a range of environmental and financial benefits not just to Zhongsheng Volvo and its customers but also to the many people whose lives are improved by carbon offset projects in China and around the world.”

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First China dealership certified carbon neutral through Castrol Target Neutral