The association's recent survey found that the number of corporate fleets with sustainability initiatives soared from 64.5% to 76.6% within the past 12 months.

While the survey showed that roughly 80% of all fleets currently have sustainability initiatives in place, the number of public fleets with initiatives remained the same as the year before.  Of the fleets that do not currently have sustainability initiatives in place, 86% of corporate fleets and 70% of public service fleets have no plans to start one.

The survey shows public service fleets are far more aggressive in their approach to sustainability, using a larger variety of methods and alternative fuels than their corporate counterparts. Three-quarters of all public service fleets use a mix of hybrid and other fuel efficient vehicles as well as the use of alternative fuel vehicles. More than a third have downsized to four-cylinder vehicles and 30% reported the use of only fuel-efficient vehicles. In addition, 17.5% have made a move to the use of only hybrid vehicles.

For corporate fleets, the most popular method was the use of a mix of hybrid and other fuel efficient vehicles at 59.2%. Close behind was a change to four-cylinder vehicles (55.1%). There were also strong showings for the use of alternative fuel vehicles (36.7%) and the use of only fuel-efficient vehicles (30.6%). In addition, roughly 10% of corporate fleets reported the purchase of carbon offsets to become carbon neutral – twice as many as on the public service side.

The NAFA survey also notes that the current economic downturn throughout North America has affected sustainability programmes substantially. Yet, even with the economic problems, nearly three out of every four fleet managers who took part in the survey believe the sustainability issue will gain in importance over the next several years.