Madrid, September 16.– Coinciding with today’s International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, mobility company Alsa is launching a new initiative as part of its environmental strategy.
Starting today, travelers on the company’s long-distance and regional services will be able to find out the carbon footprint generated by their bus journey and will also have the option to offset it by making a contribution to reforestation projects.
During the online ticket purchasing process on the website, Alsa will inform the traveler of the carbon footprint generated by their journey, which will vary depending on the distance of the route. Optionally, the customer will also have the opportunity to offset that carbon footprint by making a financial contribution to forestation projects in Spain, where the emissions occur.
For example, on a journey between Madrid and Bilbao (400 km), emissions of 12 kg CO2 are generated, and the traveler will have the option to make a contribution of €0.12 to offset these emissions.
Alsa Forest in Palencia: reforestation of eight hectares
The first contributions from customers will be allocated to a project located in Congosto de Valdavia (Palencia), to reforest an area of high ecological value that was devastated in a devastating fire in 2020, which burned more than 100,000 trees.
The action to be carried out with the contribution of Alsa customers is the initial reforestation of 8 hectares, within a larger project that includes the planting of 92,000 trees on a total surface area of 58 hectares. Together, it is estimated that this forest mass will be capable of absorbing 81,989 tons of CO2 over a complete cycle, of which Alsa has an initial reserve of 10,000 tons.
This first Alsa Forest – which may be followed by others in different areas of Spain – will begin this September with land preparation. Planting of six native species adapted to the ecosystem of the area will begin in October and will be completed in November.
CO2 Revolution
To implement this initiative, Alsa has signed an agreement with CO2 Revolution, a leading Spanish company in the reforestation of degraded areas to restore environmental balance and, at the same time, generate CO2 compensation.
In CO2 Revolution’s reforestation projects, traditional methods are combined with strong support for new technologies, being pioneers in the development of smart seeds and planting by drones.
Alsa and CO2 Revolution have previously collaborated, as they participate in the Smart Green Challenge promoted by LG Spain, which aims to plant 47 million trees annually in Spain, one for every Spanish citizen.
The bus, key to sustainable mobility
Traveling by bus generates 5.5 times fewer greenhouse gases than traveling by private vehicle. Despite being the most sustainable mode, Alsa, as a responsible operator, has implemented an environmental strategy aimed at reducing the emissions generated by its activity.
In this regard, since 2015, Alsa has managed to reduce its emissions by 18.4%. In the last two years, it has incorporated 136 “eco” or “zero” emission vehicles, with an investment of 46 million euros. Since 2020, the company no longer incorporates any non-eco buses into its urban operations. And this year, it has reinforced its commitment to leading the transition to green fleets in our country, committing to ensuring that 100% of the urban buses it acquires are zero emissions from 2030 onwards.
Now, with the launch of this initiative, Alsa also invites its customers to join this project of offsetting the carbon footprint of their trips, contributing to the reforestation of areas of high ecological value, with the ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
