[IMAGECAPTION]Photo courtesy of Thinkstock [/IMAGECAPTION]
WHY IT RATES: Enterprise continues to boost its resume in the quest to be the best car rental company. - Eric Bowman, TravelPulse Senior Editor
Enterprise Rent-A-Car, which is owned by the world's largest car rental company, Enterprise Holdings Inc., has received MetLife's first-ever Sustainability Products & Services Award. The award recognizes suppliers that go above and beyond in their sustainability efforts and provide MetLife with innovative and impactful sustainable products, services and partnerships.
"As our valued partner and supplier, Enterprise has played an important role in tracking MetLife's greenhouse gas emissions from business travel and offering solutions to help reduce our environmental footprint," said Maureen O'Connor, Vice President of Global Facilities Management & Sustainability at MetLife. "We are proud of this partnership and look forward to continuing to work together to create a healthy environment for our customers."
Enterprise Holdings operates - with its affiliate Enterprise Fleet Management - the world's largest fleet through an integrated network of regional subsidiaries and franchise locations. The fleet consists of more than 1.9 million vehicles, accessible through more than 9,600 neighborhood and airport branch locations in more than 85 countries and territories.
As a result, Enterprise is in a strong position to help drive sustainable transportation solutions and policies around the globe. Furthermore, Enterprise is able to take a 360-degree approach to its corporate sustainability efforts:
• Promoting the viability of urban mobility and alternative fuels
• Increasing access to fuel-efficient vehicles
• Improving operational efficiency
• Minimizing waste
• Improving the quality of life in local communities
• Enhancing natural disaster relief efforts
For example, Enterprise's one-of-a-kind, extensive network not only supports the growth of urban mobility programs, but also offers an array of highly accessible, efficient and affordable vehicles - including the trademarked concept of a Virtual Car- unlike any other provider. In addition, 66 percent of Enterprise's U.S. and Canadian fleet averages 28 mpg or better.
Enterprise also helps corporate customers proactively manage vehicle use with custom reports that focus on current fleet emissions, improvements in fuel efficiency and both direct and indirect remediation costs. In fact, its carbon offset program helps organizations manage their carbon emissions and support projects that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. To date, the program has offset a cumulative total of more than 120,700 metric tons of carbon, which is equivalent to saving an estimated 13.5 million gallons of gasoline and 280,700 barrels of oil.
Plus, Enterprise's rigorous vehicle maintenance program benefits both business and the environment by lowering costs, diverting waste from landfills and reducing reliance on non-recycled materials. This includes working with partners to re-refine more than 5 million gallons of engine oil to be reused in the Enterprise fleet.
Responsible Leadership
Enterprise's sustainability initiatives are documented on its corporate website as well as its newly released FY2016 sustainability update, highlighting key initiatives such as responsible supply chain management. Its Supplier Code of Conduct promotes a common understanding of what is expected of all suppliers.
Enterprise Holdings is the only company in the international car rental industry - and one of a handful in the global travel industry - to complete its sustainability reports and updates in accordance with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 "Core" Guidelines. This annual documentation articulates goals and provides transparency as well as accountability for Enterprise and its key stakeholders.
Beyond its fleet, Enterprise has an intuitive and steadfast commitment to serve the communities where its customers and employees live and work, especially when disaster recovery efforts are under way. The Enterprise brand covers more than 5,800 neighborhood and airport offices in the U.S. alone, all strategically positioned to partner with insurance companies and government agencies to begin the recovery and restoration process as quickly as possible. These Enterprise offices - conveniently located within 15 miles of 90 percent of the U.S. population - also are prepared and staffed to respond quickly and seamlessly, moving vehicles around the country and into areas where they are needed most.
Moreover, the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels has distinguished itself by developing promising new ways to produce plant-based fuels. The future use of these fuels for both ground and air transportation could help make the business travel industry more sustainable. In addition, a complementary sustainable energy program funded by the Enterprise Holdings Foundation at the University of Missouri is already yielding promising results in the field of biofuels.
"We take great pride in operating as a significant part of MetLife's supply chain," said Mary Mahoney, Vice President of Enterprise's Insurance Replacement Division. "But it is especially rewarding that our close collaboration and responsible business practices have likewise helped the MetLife team achieve their own sustainability goals."
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