Tootbus unveils climate transition plan to achieve net-zero by 2030

The sightseeing bus firm Tootbus has unveiled its new Climate Transition Plan, sharing its sustainability strategy to achieve net-zero operational emissions by 2030. Tootbus created the plan in partnership with the carbon auditing business Greenly. 

About Tootbus’s Climate Transition Plan

The targeted plan will allow Tootbus to deliver a net-zero goal in a way that prioritises emissions reductions in line with the Paris Agreement. Some of the targeted activities covered in the plan include switching 47 buses to electrical power, optimising energy consumption, and transitioning to renewable energies. 

Earlier in 2024, the company kicked off its renewable energy transition by initiating a rooftop solar project at its Wandsworth bus depot. The solar panels are predicted to generate 66,000 kilowatt-hours of energy yearly. This will be used to power both the bus depot operations and the charging of electric buses. 

Currently, around 35 percent of Tootbus’s fleet is made up of electric vehicles (EVs). The remainder of the fleet runs on biofuels – a mix of Bio-natural gas vehicle (BioNGV) and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). Operating in Paris, London, and Brussels, the sightseeing bus company has reached an emissions reduction of 1,808 tCO2e since 2021. 

It now claims it produces five times less emissions than an operator with a conventional diesel-powered fleet. The company has shared they have already invested almost 12 million euros into decarbonising its fleet of buses. Moreover, they have been measuring their carbon footprint since 2023. 

Tackling their digital footprint and leveraging technology

Committed to maximising the satisfaction of its customers, it aims to offer a technological solution with a low environmental impact at each step along the customer journey. Recently, the company installed rainwater collecting systems to repurpose the water for washing the buses too. They plan to roll out similar installations in the other cities it operates in. 

Buses have also been equipped with data communications technologies to encourage more energy-efficient driving practices. Tootbus has also said it is dedicated to minimising the energy consumption used for its digital operations while curbing its digital footprint. 

In order to achieve this, the firm will be leveraging energy-efficient and optimised digital formats while avoiding storing useless data. The firm also encourages its customers to remove the Tootbus mobile app from their smartphones once their sightseeing tour has ended in a bid to minimise its consumer footprint. 

Conclusion

Tootbus’s comprehensive approach to reducing its carbon footprint, from transitioning to electric vehicles and renewable energy sources to addressing its digital impact, serves as an inspiring example for businesses across industries – particularly those in transport. 

Their commitment to innovation and sustainability demonstrates that even established companies can take proactive steps toward achieving net-zero emissions. Other businesses should look to Tootbus as a model for how to balance operational efficiency with environmental responsibility.

If your organisation is ready to take meaningful steps toward decarbonisation but needs guidance on where to start, our Certificate in Decarbonisation: Achieving Net Zero course offers the tools and insights to help you develop and implement effective strategies.