Castrol India Limited, the leading automotive and industrial lubricant manufacturing company in the country, has launched an industry-first Castrol Certified Carbon Neutral programme in India to help automotive dealerships reduce their carbon footprint.

Pratham Motors – one of Bengaluru’s leading automotive dealerships will become the first Castrol Certified Carbon Neutral dealership by offsetting 100% of its operating emissions across all its 12 sales and service locations. Castrol has supported Pratham Motors in this endeavour by estimating its current annual carbon footprint and become carbon neutral by offsetting emissions from all its operations including demo and courtesy cars, electricity consumption in workshops and showrooms, as well as business travel. In addition to this, Pratham Motors will offer its customers the option to drive carbon neutral for 10,000 kilometres by neutralizing their vehicular carbon footprint. Castrol has offered this programme with support from BP Target Neutral.

BP Target Neutral is a carbon management programme administered by Castrol’s parent BP, designed to help customers and partners reduce emissions. Initiated in 2006, the programme is not operated as a profit centre with BP covering BP Target Neutral’s operating costs. BP Target Neutral’s work is governed by an independent Advisory & Assurance Panel of prominent environmental and industry experts. The panel ensures that all policies and activities conform to best practice in carbon management, and where possible will seek to set new standards for that best practice.

As a member of the International Carbon Reduction and Offset Alliance (ICROA), BP Target Neutral is independently audited each year to ensure that it operates in compliance with ICROA’s Code of Best Practice. 

“Our strategy is to support the transition to a low carbon environment by introducing products and solutions which help reduce carbon footprint for our customers. We are proud to launch this industry-first sustainability initiative in India. The Castrol Certified Carbon Neutral programme enables Pratham Motors to take a leadership position on their environmental impact and to help their customers offset their emissions,” said Omer Dormen, managing director, Castrol India Limited.

Through this initiative, Pratham is offsetting 1,459 tonnes of carbon dioxide emission (CO2e), equivalent to an individual taking more than 8,600 flights from Bengaluru to Mumbai.

“Recognising overall environmental challenges, we at Pratham Motors are keen to cut down our emissions. We are delighted to be working with Castrol India to reduce the carbon footprint of our dealerships and that of our customers, helping us play our part in contributing to a sustainable future for the next generation,” Samar Bhasin, CEO, Pratham Motors, said.

Along with this unique offer, Castrol continues to supply its carbon neutral range of products – Castrol EDGE PROFESSIONAL and Castrol MAGNATEC PROFESSIONAL to its franchisee workshop customers in India.