Airstream Inc. said it is expanding its commitment to the environment by launching Caravan to Carbon Neutral. The company said this is a two-pronged, industry-first initiative to neutralize estimated carbon emissions created by the driving of the company’s products.
Airstream will directly underwrite the planting of an estimated 118,405 trees by the National Forest Foundation. Those trees are projected to help sequester the estimated carbon generated by the first year of driving of all new Airstream travel trailers and touring coaches manufactured in 2021, the company said. That figure also includes the estimated carbon emitted during the manufacturing and transportation of Airstreams from its Jackson Center, Ohio, production facility to dealerships nationwide in 2021.
Nearly every Airstream owner asked (96 percent) in a 2020 Airstream owner survey is concerned about the state of the environment, the company reported. Said one survey participant: “When people travel with their Airstream, it keeps them more in touch with nature and humanity. This raises their awareness of the importance of having a healthy environment.”
“The Airstream community has a symbiotic relationship with nature and the environment,” said Bob Wheeler, Airstream president and CEO. “This program brings an innovative solution to Airstreamers who want to neutralize their estimated carbon footprint from driving their Airstream and contribute to a more beautiful natural world.”
The estimated 118,405 trees required to sequester the targeted carbon was calculated using Airstream sales forecasts for 2021, findings from an internal customer usage study, greenhouse gas equivalency calculators developed by the Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ fuel efficiency estimates for gasoline-powered vehicles, publicly-reported estimates from Mercedes-Benz, an Airstream aerodynamics study, and tree carbon sequestration estimates from the United States Department of Agriculture.
Caravan to Carbon Neutral also allows any Airstream owner to help sequester additional carbon emissions through the purchase of “Carbon Reduction Kits” from the National Forest Foundation through Airstream’s e-commerce website, Airstream Supply Co.
