In a bid to help its customers reduce their impact on the environment, Volvo has launched its new Commute Greener device.
The service, which can be accessed either online or through a mobile phone, allows people to monitor their carbon emissions and how they would change if they used different modes of transport.
It has been trialled by Volvo employees in Gothenburg, Sweden, and so far has proved to be a success.
"Our tests have shown that individuals can quickly reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by more than 30 per cent using Commute Greener," said Magnus Holmqvist at Volvo IT.
Volvo acknowledges that people are responsible for large carbon emissions on their way to work, with this new tool helping commuters to keep an eye on exactly what sort of an impact they have.
Businesses are starting to realise the benefit of reducing their environmental impact, both inside and outside of the office.
Commercial director of Carbon Clear James Ramsay recently said that companies which show themselves to be eco-aware will be in the best position to make changes introduced by the government.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change estimates that reducing energy use will save organisations a total of £1 billion each year by 2020, showing that environmental benefits are not the only incentive for becoming more efficient.
"Our experience is that as soon as organisations start managing their carbon they start reducing it, and if you cut carbon, you cut costs," Mr Ramsay commented.
The new Volvo product has now been launched within the group after it fared well among the 2,000 employees it was trialled on. Commuters were able to establish the most efficient - and therefore cost-effective - means of getting from A to B, which businesses may well learn from.
As the Commute Greener scheme is in line with the United Nations climate change initiative, Volvo believes it credentials are evident.
Niklas Gustavsson, vice-president of environmental and public affairs at AB Volvo, said: "The UN has made it very clear that innovation and technology play an important part [in reducing the effects of climate change].
"Regulations and agreements are also important. However, at the end of the day, it is the choices that you and I make that can really make a difference."
By downloading the iPhone application, consumers can help Volvo become even more of an eco-friendly manufacturer while making individual efforts to combat climate change.
Studies over recent months have identified that the recession may help improve the environment, as people are opting to use their vehicles less and, when they do travel, they are more aware of the amount of fuel they use.
Cambridge Econometrics is a proponent of this idea, recently finding that UK carbon emissions will be reduced by around seven per cent between 2008 and 2010.
At a time when people are looking to save money, having the Commute Greener device on hand could help motorists rethink their day-to-day driving habits while also helping out the environment.
Anyone who really wants to make sure their driving has as little an impact on the world as possible may also want to consider an
eco car insurance policy, as some firms offer the option of carbon offsetting.
The views expressed within the article are entirely those of Adfero Ltd and are
not those of the BGL Group