Donlen, Environmental Defense Fund and GreenDriver Collaborate on Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Action

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Sept. 21/PRNewswire/ --Donlen, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and GreenDriver™ today announced that they are collaborating on a multi-year Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Commitment to Action titled, "Commercial Fleet 20% GHG Emissions Reduction." This commitment indicates a significant pledge by all three organizations to work together to transform the environmental impact of the fleet industry.

CGI commitments are designed to promote global corporate citizenship through the development of business practices that encourage sustainability, foster education, improve health, and stimulate global economies. These commitments create innovative partnerships between corporations and nonprofits to accomplish their goals through new, specific, and measureable business strategies.

Donlen, North America's fastest growing and most innovative fleet leasing and management company, will work with clients and other companies to baseline fleet emissions and create actionable emissions reductions plans to increase fuel efficiency, reduce miles traveled, utilize low-carbon fuels, and deploy technologically advanced vehicles. As a result, companies will reduce fuel expenditures, petroleum consumption, and global climate change emissions.

EDF will assist Donlen by validating its data collection process, reduction strategies, and methodology. Donlen will also utilize GreenDriver online training and behavior management programs to help commercial and government fleets reduce their CO2 emissions and fuel costs by focusing on the greatest variable in a vehicle's fuel efficiency: the driver.

Donlen, EDF, and GreenDriver invite and encourage their clients, large commercial fleets, and other fleet management companies, suppliers, and vendors to join in this important effort. There are nearly three million vehicles in U.S. corporate fleets; industry-wide participation in this effort could eliminate more than 10 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

"The transportation industry is responsible for 28 percent of the overall greenhouse gas emissions in the United States," said Gary Rappeport, Donlen CEO. "As a leader in the fleet management industry, it's important that Donlen takes the initiative to help reduce commercial fleet GHG on a broader scale. The Clinton Global Initiative offers us the perfect venue to address this critically important issue, and we're proud to collaborate with EDF to be part of the larger work of CGI."

As part of Donlen's Commitment to Action, Rappeport joins other notable leaders who are members of CGI through commitments on behalf of their respective organizations, including Fred Krupp, President, EDF; Indra K. Nooyi, Chairman and CEO, PepsiCo; Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO, Renault-Nissan Alliance; Bill Gates, Co-chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; and Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO, Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated.

"Many opportunities exist today for companies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicle fleets while cutting costs," said Jason Mathers, Project Manager, Environmental Defense Fund. "Time and again, we have seen that a smart, performance-based structure is critical to achieving success. This commitment through the Clinton Global Initiative is a shining example of such a structure. We applaud Donlen and GreenDriver for taking a central role in coordinating this commitment and are proud to work with them on this effort."

The Commercial Fleet 20% GHG Emissions Reduction Commitment to Action will be officially announced today at the 2010 CGI Annual Meeting in New York City at the Environment and Energy keynote session by Master of Ceremony Jose Maria Figueres, Former President of the Republic of Costa Rica.

For more information about Donlen's Commitment to Action, please contact Dan Hannan, Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Product Development at 847-412-5402 or visit www.donlen.com/clinton-global-initiative.aspx

About the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)

Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 125 current and former heads of state, 15 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. The CGI community also includes CGI University (CGI U), a forum to engage college students in global citizenship, MyCommitment.org, an online portal where anybody can make a Commitment to Action, and CGI Lead, which engages a select group of young leaders from business, government, and civil society. For more information, visit www.clintonglobalinitiative.org.

About Donlen Corporation

Donlen, with headquarters in Northbrook, IL, offices nationwide, and strategic global partnerships, is a leading provider of innovative fleet management programs. Since 1965, Donlen has offered its clients highly personalized and responsive customer service. Donlen has been recognized as one of Crain's Chicago Business "List of 20 Best Places to Work in Chicago" for 2009 and 2010, National Association for Business Resources "101 Best and Brightest Places to Work For in Chicago" in 2007-2010, a "Top 100 Global Outsourcing Leader" by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP) each year from 2006-2009, and a Stevie Award Finalist as "Most Innovative Company" in 2010. For more information about Donlen visit www.donlen.com.

About EDF

Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. For more information, visit http://edf.org. Read our blog at blogs.edf.org/innovation. Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/EDFix.

About GreenDriver™

GreenDriver is the only full-service e-learning and certification program focused solely on driver behavior, providing a means for commercial and government fleets to reduce their CO2 and fuel spend. Because there is a direct and substantial correlation between the amount of carbon dioxide released and driver behavior, GreenDriver can help commercial and government fleets accomplish real and significant economic and environmental results. For more information or to request a test drive, visit www.greendriver.com.

SOURCE Donlen Corporation