News: Easyjet launches groundbreaking carbon offsetting scheme

Flights > News > # 1404 (03/08/2007)

Easyjet has launched what it claims to be the most trustworthy carbon offsetting scheme of any airline in Europe.
A number of recent reports have questioned the credibility of many independent carbon offsetting schemes, so Easyjet has pledged to invest exclusively in United Nations-certified projects. The Luton-based budget airline said passengers’ contributions will reach projects without wasting money unnecessarily on administration. The company will initially use all funds raised by the scheme to buy carbon credits from the Perlabi Hydroelectric Project in Ecuador.
Easyjet chief executive, Andy Harrison, said: “Carbon offsetting can never be a substitute for environmental efficiency, but for Easyjet as one of the most efficient airlines in the world, it is a big step towards minimising our environmental impact further. People will only support it if they know where their money goes and that it really makes a difference.”
The Easyjet website now features a ‘carbon calculator’ to work out every passenger’s emissions, based on sector length, load factor and fuel burn. The airline expects the average contribution for a return journey to be around £3. This sum is added to the cost of the flights and paid for in one single transaction.
Although the scheme is not compulsory, Easyjet will give each passenger the choice to offset the carbon dioxide emissions of flights as part of the booking process.

Related Airlines: