Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

RAC Is First In Industry To Go Carbon Neutral

San Francisco-based Bandago Van Rentals says it is the first auto rental company in the United States to offset the entire amount of carbon dioxide produced by its nationwide fleet of vehicles.

by Staff
June 19, 2007
2 min to read


San Francisco-based Bandago Van Rentals says it is the first auto rental company in the United States to offset the entire amount of carbon dioxide produced by its nationwide fleet of vehicles, according to a June 18 press statement.

Bandago specializes in servicing the music industry, but also serves the general public, renting 15 passenger vans as well as Dodge Sprinter vans that have been customized for touring musicians.

Ad Loading...

“We are working with DriveNeutral because we know their carbon offsets are going to fund projects and practices that truly reduce the amount of carbon dioxide going into the atmosphere,” says Bandago CEO and founder, Sharky Laguana. “Currently, like other van rental companies, Bandago does not have the option of buying 100 percent pollution-free vehicles. However, we can still make a positive contribution and think that carbon offsetting is one of the best opportunities for us as well as for our clients who are also concerned about climate change."

With the help of DriveNeutral, a nonprofit organization that helps members offset their carbon dioxide exclusively through the Chicago Climate Exchange, Bandago expects to offset 823 metric tons of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to taking nearly 240 passenger vehicles off the road for a year.

According to the release, “DriveNeutral provides individuals and organizations the ability to take global responsibility for emissions through market-based carbon offsetting programs.”

To neutralize the greenhouse gasses produced by its vehicles, Laguana first determined the company’s climate footprint, or the measurable amount of CO2 emissions made by his company, using the CO2 calculator on DriveNeutral.org. This was done by estimating the mileage used for his entire fleet in one year. Through his partnership with DriveNeutral, the company then purchased and retired credits for that same amount through the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), North America’s first large scale market for greenhouse gas reductions.

“We are really excited to work with Bandago because they are taking swift and meaningful action to offset all of their vehicles for their clients, as well as the entire company,” says Jason Smith, co-founder and executive director of DriveNeutral. “This demonstrates how easy it is for any company to make a remarkable commitment to significantly reduce their impact on the climate.”

More Rental Operations

Globe image with Text: GBTA Business Travel Forecast

Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise 3.6% in 2026 Before Easing in 2027

Car rental rates are projected to rise less than airfares and hotel rates in 2026, then become the only major travel category forecast to decline in 2027, according to projections from GBTA and ALTOUR.

Read More →
Car rental sign with financial graph in background
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownAugust 2, 2026

Avis Cuts Fleet as Summer Demand Trails Expectations

Avis Budget Group increased second-quarter earnings despite lower Americas revenue and softer-than-expected summer demand. The company also expanded Avis First and advanced its autonomous fleet operations with Waymo.

Read More →
car rental booking engine on computer screen with text: Bookings aren't the whole story
Rental OperationsAugust 1, 2026

Why Bookings Are Only the Start of the Rental Day

A reservation captures demand. The operating test is whether the business can keep the customer, vehicle, commercial terms, and next action aligned until the rental is closed.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownJuly 31, 2026

This Is the Oldest Car Rental Advertisement You’ll Ever See

This ad for Saunders Drive it Yourself, believed to be the first car rental company in the U.S., was found in an Omaha phone book from 1926.

Read More →
A counter agent chats with a customer over a rental counter
Rental OperationsJuly 21, 2026

The Desk Upsell Is Costing Operators More Than it Earns

Counter upsells generate revenue, but they can also slow transactions, erode trust, and cost repeat business. Fully inclusive pricing may offer operators a better path to long-term value.

Read More →
U-Save Mauritius team

U-Save Expands Indian Ocean Presence with New Master Franchise for Mauritius

The franchise has been acquired by Mauritian travel entrepreneur Umarfarooq Omarjee, an established figure in the island's tourism and mobility sector.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Back view of a remote driver in front of a screen delivering a car to a location.

Global Carsharing Fleet Projected to Reach 768,000 Vehicles By 2030

A new Berg Insight forecast outlines several business models driving the projected growth in public carsharing worldwide through 2029.

Read More →
green and blue bar graphs compare fleet sales June 2025 versus June 2026
Fleet Acquisitionby Martin RomjueJuly 8, 2026

Rental Car Fleet Sales Show Mid-Year Strength

June gains ensured rental fleets closed out the first half of 2026 in positive territory.

Read More →
Close up of a row of white CUVs in the Surprice Mobility fleet at the Milan airport.

Surprice Mobility Opens Corporate Rental Station at Milan Malpensa Airport

The Milan opening is part of Surprice Mobility's broader strategy to expand its corporate operations while increasing the use of technology across its network.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Julian Gritsch with an MBA class in a classroom.

Brazilian Executive MBA Targets Growing Domestic Rental Car Industry

Rental car companies face a unique combination of challenges that are rarely addressed in traditional programs.

Read More →
Ad Loading...