PricewaterhouseCoopers claims it has reduced CO2 emissions by 10% among its fleet of 3,650 vehicles and its staff have planted 3,500 saplings to help offset environmental damage caused by the company's fleet. The initiatives form part of the company's corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy.
Speaking at a session entitled 'How to manage company cars effectively in 2005', Carolyn Wilkinson, senior employee benefits manager at the financial services firm, said the company has a policy of evaluating fleet suppliers for their approach to CSR as part of any tender process.
Tony Leigh, head of fleet services at PricewaterhouseCoopers, also spoke at the session and said the £36m contract hire deal for the company fleet was cost-neutral, partly due to a personal liability clause for employees who damage company cars.
"We had one driver recently who put diesel into a petrol tank, and the damage will cost £2,000. We will be charging that employee," he said. Leigh added that the PricewaterhouseCoopers fleet is expected to soon rise to 4,000 cars.
The company uses contract hire arrangements due to the predictability of cost and the reduced risk. Under the hire arrangements staff at the firm are allowed to select "almost any" right hand drive vehicle.
