Grab Singapore unveils sustainability initiatives

The company gives passengers options to participate in its bid for a sustainable operation and eyes a full fleet running using cleaner energy by 2030.

Grab announced its 2030 Transport Sustainability Goal, committing to operate a full fleet of vehicles running on cleaner energy by 2030, as stated in a media release dated 7 July.

It said that this is in line with Singapore Green Plan 2030 which has a roadmap for electric vehicles and envisions having all vehicles operate on cleaner energy by 2040.

The JustGrab Green programme, which will pilot start on 14 July, will be a new transport type that is serviced by electric or hybrid vehicles of minimal vehicular emission schemes (VES) under A2 band, which emits less than 125 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre. 

Carbon emissions can be reduced by around 55% with a hybrid or electric vehicle compared to a regular vehicle that uses petrol, Grab said.

The service will be available first to passengers from the central region which include Downtown Core, Singapore River, Museum, Straits View, Marina South, Marina East, Bukit Merah, Outram, Queenstown, Bukit Timah, River Valley, Tanglin, Orchard, Newton, Novena, Toa Payoh, Bishan, Rochor, Kallang, and Marine Parade, Geylang.

Meanwhile, the Green Programme, which will also be launched on the same day, will provide consumers with the option to reduce carbon footprint through a new feature in the application where passengers can opt to pay S$0.10 when they book a ride. Grab will match the contribution for up to three million rides to encourage consumers to participate.

The full contribution will go to carbon offset and solarization projects in Singapore and the region which will include collaboration with Sembcorp Industries to support providing solar panels on rooftops of community institutions in Singapore.

The firm will also collaborate with Shell to buy carbon credits generated from Katinan Mentaya Project in Indonesia, which helps restore natural forests and conserve peatland habitats and prevent the release of greenhouse gases of around 447 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over 60 years. The project will also help local communities create jobs, improve soil quality, and food production.

“Our 2030 Transport Sustainability Goal is our commitment in taking a holistic approach to combat climate change. Introducing JustGrab Green and the Green Programme are the first of many steps Grab is undertaking to create solutions to environmental challenges,” Transport, Grab Singapore Managing Director Andrew Chan said.

“It is a team effort, and we will continue to examine ways where we, alongside our partners and consumers, can make a net-zero carbon future a reality for Singapore and the region,” he added.

Grab also said that it will expand its electric and hybrid vehicle fleet through GrabRentals, its rental arm.