A green travel policy that offers rewards to staff depending on the carbon emissions of their cars has made a impression at North Star Housing Group (NSHG) before it has even been launched.

The group, which works on sustainable communities and regeneration in the north-east, will begin the policy next month. The strategy has already been communicated to staff and a number of workers are changing their cars.

Beverly Sherratt, head of HR and corporate services at NSHG, told PM: “We’ve constantly kept staff in the loop about it. It’s gone through the staff council and every-one’s been so supportive – even people who would lose out.”

Most staff spend 75 per cent of their working time in the community, travelling in their own cars. The policy means that those with cars emitting 150g or less of CO2 receive a lump sum annual payment, while drivers with cars that emit more will receive much smaller sums.

Sherratt added: “We’ve not said people must have low-emitting cars, we’re not trying to indoctrinate. However, we will reward organisational values.”

NSHG emits 50 tonnes of CO2 each year from business travel. Sherratt expects that figure to fall by 10 per cent within the year.