lastminute.com customers get carbonwise

Thousands of holidaymakers are taking responsibility for their carbon dioxide emissions when flying, according to figures released today by travel and leisure retailer lastminute.com.

1 in 10 (10%) of lastminute.com’s customers have chosen to offset their flights since the launch of its carbonwise initiative back in November 06, representing over 2000 tonnes of carbon dioxide. lastminute.com was the first travel company to put a scheme in place, which makes carbon offsetting an integral part of the booking process, and these results clearly highlight that people want to do their bit for the environment.

This news comes on the same day that the Government launches its proposed scheme to accredit offsetting projects.

“I am absolutely delighted that so many of our customers have chosen to offset the environmental impact of their flight,” lastminute.com Chief Executive, Ian McCaig said.

“carbonwise gives people the facts about the environmental impact of their flight so they can make an informed decision to do something about it – these results confirm that people appreciate being given a chance to reduce their carbon footprint,” he said.

lastminute.com’s carbonwise initiative was put in place following growing concerns over the incessant growth of the aviation industry, the dramatic increase of in carbon dioxide emissions from aviation forecasted for the next few years and its impact on the environment.

Since the launch, lastminute.com has closely monitored the scheme:
- An average of 10 percent of customers offset their flights and a record 15 percent of bookings were carbonwise on 17 December
- 2.011 tonnes of carbon have been offset - this is the equivalent to the entire UK leaving their lights on for 19 minutes
- Average per passenger of £3.85 – equivalent to a return flight to Istanbul
- 12 percent of short-haul bookings were offset
- 4 percent of long- haul bookings were offset
- The “greenest” route is London – Edinburgh with 23 percent of customers choosing to offset

lastminute.com has so far raised thousands of pounds on behalf of Climate Care, a leading organisation dedicated to reducing global warming which invests in sustainable energy saving projects around the world. The amount will go to two specific projects, one in the Bahamas and the other in Nicaragua - In the Bahamas the project is to convert cooking oil into bio-diesel and replace polluting petro-diesel, and in Nicaragua, lastminute.com is helping installing 3000 energy sufficient stoves to reduce carbon emissions and improve the health of local families. So far, lastminute.com customers have offset 2,011 tonnes of carbon dioxide and raised tens of thousands of pounds which will enable Climate Care to invest in either 266 eco stoves or produce 0.45 million litres of bio fuel.

David Wellington, Managing Director of Climate Care said: “It’s encouraging to see so many of lastminute.com’s customers choosing to take responsibility for their carbon emissions. I have no doubt that the pioneering approach that carbonwise takes [by first educating customers and then giving them the option to offset as part of the booking process] is the reason for this success and they should be commended for this bold programme.”

Offsetting is easy, when booking a flight on lastminute.com, a carbon calculator automatically works out and displays the carbon dioxide emissions of that flight and the cost of the offset. Customers are then invited to offset their flight emissions. lasminute.com has also put up a special page dedicated to the carbonwise initiative explaining why customers should think about offsetting and where the money goes, and an innovative ‘What’s the damage?’ calculator showing how their emissions compare to common household activities like leaving the lights on and boiling a kettle.

Find out more by visiting lastminute.com/carbonwise.