Hagerty, a Traverse City-based automotive lifestyle brand and specialty insurance provider, has launched ECO, a voluntary Enthusiast Carbon Offset program to help motorists reduce the carbon footprint of their collectible cars, trucks, and motorcycles in an easy, convenient, and transparent way.
ECO is the first step in a holistic Hagerty Impact strategy that will educate and empower enthusiasts to drive positive change across a range of social and environmental activities. Hagerty will lead the way, offsetting all emissions from its classic fleet and driving events. For 2022, this included the California Mille and Greenwich Concours Driving Tour.
ECO will allow collectible vehicle owners to monitor their CO2 emissions by entering their vehicle’s type and the mileage they want to offset into a web-based emissions calculator powered by Chrome Carbon, a reforestation program and an industry leading carbon reduction initiative for automotive enthusiasts.
The calculator helps owners recognize their vehicle’s impact and allows them to offset multiple times its CO2 emissions by planting trees locally in the U.S, Canada, or the U.K., Chrome Carbon partners with certified climate bodies and organizations to fund highly ranked reforestation and carbon reduction projects with real and measurable gains.
Planting trees is one of the most impactful and affordable ways of taking CO2 out of the atmosphere and restoring natural habitat, according to scientists. Chrome Carbon partners with organizations working closely with national forest agencies, local forest experts and farmers, making sure that the right trees are planted and looked after in the most relevant locations.
“We believe the love of driving and the love of our planet can and must co-exist,” says McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty. “As part of our long-term environmental strategy, we are committed to helping automotive enthusiasts responsibly make a difference with simple and affordable steps such as this program.”
Kory Felker, vice president of brand strategy at Hagerty, says: “We have made a commitment to educate ourselves and our members on the best ways to improve their vehicles and driving habits to lessen the overall impact on the environment. At the same time, we will respect any of our members who are not ready to engage in these efforts.”
Hagerty’s ECO program is available to all collectible vehicle owners interested in offsetting the carbon emissions associated with driving their vehicle.
Participation in Hagerty ECO is not linked to the purchase of a Hagerty insurance product or event ticket and can be purchased independently by any collectible vehicle owner. For more information, click here.
