KEA Green Initiatives
KEA Campers believes in being a sustainable and environmentally-responsible company. Because of the nature of our business and our customers, we have been considering the environmental and social impact of our business for years. Our strategy is to be leading the industry in this area:
- To run the most environmentally-friendly motor homes, campervans, and operations in the market
- To encourage our customers to behave in a way that leaves the environment cleaner than when they arrived – and facilitate this behaviour
- To empower our staff to embrace environmentally friendly practises in both their personal and working lives
- To influence our business partners to adopt environmentally-friendly practises
Since our inception 15 years ago, KEA has always been at the forefront of good environmental practice with self-containment initiatives in the fleet and the early use of solar panels. In addition to having the youngest fleet in the industry, KEA also has the most environmentally-friendly vehicles of any campervan rental company across Australia, New Zealand and Southern Africa. In 2006 we identified the importance of this issue and have worked hard to measure and improve our operations from an environmental point of view. Our position of “best in category” has also been a driving force to be a leader for sustainable environmental practises.
Our achievements to date include:
- Qualmark Enviro Gold rating – First campervan and motorhome company in New Zealand to obtain this certification (only one other campervan company has achieved this in NZ since we have)
- Fully self-contained campervans and motorhomes – the first company to have achieved this in accordance with the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA)’s Leave No Trace scheme, and the New Zealand Motorhome and Caravan Association (NZMCA) for our shower and toilet models
- Dump Station sponsorship – sponsorship of the CMCA dump station programme since 2004, and the NZMCA dump station programme since 2002, to encourage responsible camping and help protect the environment
- Euro 4 turbo-diesel vehicles – our entire fleet is manufactured with these diesel vehicles which are considerably more efficient than petrol, with a maximum age of 30 months
- Solar panels – in all motorhomes and campervans to reduce electricity used by the solar panels charging the in-house batteries
- Water filters – featured in all motorhomes and campervans to reduce the need for purchasing bottled water (estimated to save at least 300,000 plastic drink bottles per year collectively in Australia and New Zealand)
- Sustainably sourced plywood with alkorcell coating – all vehicles manufactured using environmentally-friendly alkorcell-coated and sustainably sourced plywood to reduce the weight of campers and fuel use, deforestation, and use of harmful toxins
- Kea enclosure sponsorship – at Rainbow Springs in Rotorua, NZ to help provide awareness of the native endangered alpine parrot
- Biodiesel – Our main Auckland, NZ transfer coach has used 100% biodiesel since October 2009, as a part of a project to introduce biodiesel into our rental fleet
- Fibreglass recycling plant – a partner in New Zealand’s first and only recycling plant of this kind
- Measuring our carbon footprint in NZ – to understand our overall emissions and allow us to monitor and implement positive changes (CEMARSTM certified and audited)
- Offsetting corporate emissions in NZ – by purchasing carbon credits earned by a New Zealand wind farm since July 2008 (carboNZeroTM certified and audited)
- Wind tunnel testing – on vehicle designs to reduce aerodynamic drag
- KEA reusable shopping bag – provided at pick up to reduce use of plastic shopping bags
- Water recycling system – in the Auckland, NZ vehicle wash-bay
- Recycling – bins provided for customers at depots in New Zealand. Paper, brochures, glass, batteries, plastic and oil are all recycled. Recycling and re-use of returned brochures.
- Eco label and long lasting quality products – used to stock vehicles in New Zealand to introduce our clients to eco products and reduce waste
- Responsible disposal – of tyres, waste oil, oil filters, vehicle batteries and office computers
- Vehicle servicing and filters – we service our vehicles regularly, clean and maintain the air filters, and have an EGR system and/or particle filter in each vehicle
- Providing jobs locally – the campervan/motorhome component of our vehicles (everything except the chassis) is made in Auckland, New Zealand, and we assemble campervans in Sydney, Australia.
Download a copy of KEA Green Initiatives info sheet here.
KEAGreen guidelines
Every KEA customer receives a copy of our KEAgreen guidelines to help us help the environment.
Click here to download a copy of the guidelines - including advice on how to be KEA Green, and how to drive with the environment in mind.
Related KEAGreen news items
KEA Achieves carboNZero(CertTM) Certification