Call Sign July 2009 - Page 24 - DaC still the greenest taxi company…

DaC doesn’t go into ‘green’ competitions; our Society just goes about its business doing everything it can to try to help the environment. For example, all lights and air-con are on sensors so that if a room is empty both will automatically switch off. In addition, all paper is shredded and recycled, whilst our intranet service cuts out much of the old memo paperwork. DaC also offset their carbon footprint. Read on… Impressive progress is continuing in the Dial-a-Cab sponsored Kenya Tree Planting programme. This is run in collaboration with our carbon management partner, Carbon Footprint Ltd (HERE). This is in spite of the political turmoil that faced Kenya last year. Fortunately the Great Rift Valley region - where the DaC programme is based - largely escaped the drought faced by other regions in that country and the programme continues to grow from strength to strength, with the team hitting all their planting targets for the season. Carbon Footprint’s managing director John Buckley told Call Sign: "The programme continues to deliver vital humanitarian benefits as well as reducing carbon emissions, while the local communities are benefiting from Dial-a-Cab’s contributions now more than ever." The Kenya project forms part of Dial-a-Cab’s carbon management programme - that underpins our environmental policy and commitment to alleviate climate change. Our carbon management programme – now well into its second year - includes regular appraisal of all our operational emissions, a reduction programme and carbon offsetting of all our emissions via projects from across four continents. Carbon Footprint’s local project coordinator Mburu Waiganjo updated Call Sign on the programme’s progress… "Preparation for the	DaC still the greenest taxi company… *DaC's coordinator at work*
	Call Sign's reporter in Kenya - Mbura Waiganjo planting season started quite early with the ground preparation some two months ahead of the planting. The intent was to plant early and enjoy the full benefits of the long rainy season. While all the five forests in what are called ‘water towers’ were experiencing raging forest fires, we were lucky that the Escarpment forest, which is at the tip of the Aberdare forest, was spared the catastrophe. There was therefore no interference with our preparations." The planting was managed over two phases and although the rains were late and sparse and delayed the planting, the DaC team still hit their targets and managed to plant the planned fifteen hectares (15ha) with 15,000 trees. Wearing their distinctive new	DaC T-shirts, they also succeeded in planting the largest species collection at one planting event - an all time record of 21 species – all helping to promote biodiversity! This season has also seen the increasing participation of neighbouring communities – and especially of women who we are also educating on the need to reduce fuel use through use of fuel-efficient jikos (wood kilns) as well as seeking alternative fuels such as biogas. But care for the trees doesn’t just stop there. Now planting has been achieved, participation of the neighbouring community is the key to ensuring the forests thrive. DaC Chairman, Brice Rice, told Call Sign: "I’m delighted at the great efforts and results our team in Kenya have achieved this season. Dial-a-Cab is again leading the way in demonstrating that good business, environmental and social responsibility all go hand in hand." In addition to Kenya, DaC’s carbon offset projects also include a clean energy project in Harshnath (India), our new Maya Nut tree reforestation project in Central America and of course our UK tree-planting project. Keep reading Call Sign for further project updates over the coming months.

Why LTI were not at the Coventry show…

LTI has explained to Call Sign why they did not take part in the Private Hire and Taxi show at the Ricoh arena on 27 and 28 May, deciding instead to continue its drive to offer customers fantastic new TX4 deals that represent unbeatable value for money.
Rob Laidler, Sales Director at LTI, told this magazine: "Its not an easy decision pulling out of the show, but we think our strategy of creating unbeatable offers for our customers to buy a new TX4 is the right thing to do in the current economy."
He continued: "We recognise that drivers want to be out there working on the streets at the moment, therefore LTI are heavily supporting our dealers to take the show out onto the ranks, offering test drives and doing deals that include the Government’s Ł2000 Scrappage deal for older part exchanges. We believe our customers will agree that this way they can drive the best purpose-built taxi in the world without taking an unnecessary day off work."

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