Merchants Fleet, a developer of comprehensive fleet management solutions, released its annual Impact Report outlining its 2023 sustainability journey, performance, and initiatives. The company also highlighted sections of the report focusing on its efforts toward fleet electrification, supplier diversity and effects on the environment.
“Over the past year, we’ve made significant strides in our ESG [Environmental, Social, and Governance] efforts, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve accomplished at Merchants,” said Ted Lague, director of sustainability at Merchants. “Our progress has not only strengthened our company but also empowered our clients to make impactful, sustainable differences in their operations. It’s truly inspiring to see the positive changes we are facilitating together in the industry.”
Highlights of the report included:
Fleet electrification
In 2023, Merchants said it grew their clients’ electric vehicle fleets by 65%, contributing to improved air quality in communities across North America. Additionally, the company said it achieved 117% annual growth in the number of electric vehicle charging ports managed. With a dedicated grant professional on staff, Merchants adds its team is working with each client to identify and obtain grants, rebates, and incentives to support their EV deployments and charging infrastructure investments. The company said in 2023, it secured $1.4M in pre-approved incentives, proving that acting today on EV adoption can yield early advantages for clients.
Supplier diversity
Merchants said it continued to prioritize the measurement and growth of diversity in their supply chain, adding 78% of the company’s preferred corporate support vendors are local, small businesses, and/or diversely owned. In 2023, $43M was spent with diverse suppliers, representing a 15% year-over-year growth in diversity spending, according to the company.
The environment
Merchants’ tree planting program has planted more than 10,000 trees across eleven countries, representing an annual increase of 100%, resulting in a total of 15,000 trees planted since the program’s launch in 2022, the company said. Over a lifetime, these trees are estimated to absorb 1,800 tons of CO2 and create 1,888 working hours. The company is committed to planting ten trees for every new employee that joins Merchants.
You can read Merchants’ full Impact Report on their website.
