Sustainability
Environment
A goal of Autohellas is to offer its customers the best possible quality of services, while at the same time consuming as few resources as possible. Autohellas sees sustainable development as an attempt to build a more competitive economy with little pollution. Through actions and deeds, it always aims at an efficient use of resources, bearing in mind the protection of the environment. By applying environmentally-friendly policies and processes throughout the whole breadth of the Group’s activities, in particular for recycling and environmental management, Autohellas is making a great effort to reduce its environmental footprint, thus demonstrating the Group’s commitment to sustainable development, in a transparent and responsible way.
Autohellas embraces the idea of sustainable development, as this was developed in 2002 in the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development, as well as the idea of environmental awareness, as this was developed in the Declaration on Environment and Development in 1992. Furthermore, all European Union and Greek regulations and legislation on the protection of the environment and waste management are systematically monitored and integrated into the Group’s processes and business planning. Through its environmental policies, Autohellas is not limited to adopting best “green” practices but participates in actions aimed at raising the awareness of its customers and staff, in order to protect the environment. More specifically, the measures implemented by the Autohellas Group are:
- Through its policies, the aim of the Group is to reduce energy consumption in its company buildings. It has been estimated globally that buildings are the greatest consumers of energy as their functions are responsible for 38% greenhouse gas emissions, an amount much larger than that of industry (33%) or transport (26%).
- Maintaining a fleet with a low average age. Newer and consequently more technologically advanced cars emit lower quantities of carbon dioxide than do those of the older generation, resulting in a significant reduction in their carbon footprint.
- Through the “Become a Green Driver!” programme, which is being promoted on the websites of the Group’s companies as well as when customers pick up their vehicles, drivers are given guidelines on clever ecological driving. The goal of the programme is to encourage drivers to drive in such a way as to reduce the burden on the environment by reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Recycling of materials and consumables. The waste products and refuse from the service points and central offices (e.g. paper, toners, plastic and household batteries) are recycled, thus helping to reduce the direct environmental impact of the Group’s companies.
- The Autohellas Group invests in eco-friendly vehicles and, through the websites of the Group’s companies, encourages customers to select eco-friendly vehicles in order to reduce their carbon footprint.