A consultancy for the motor industry has effectively become the first customer for its new carbon neutral dealer scheme.

Network Automotive launched the initiative last week which offers dealers a free check of their total carbon footprint, and then gives them the opportunity to buy into a variety of carbon offset options.

Following its own audit Network has offset 16.38 tonnes of CO2, choosing a hydro-electric power scheme in Yancun, China as its offset target.

The move means the company is carbon neutral until 2010.

Managing director Colin Bruder said: “It seemed that the best way to test the product was to try it ourselves.

"A complete carbon audit was taken across the company and we then looked at the options available for offsetting, examining a variety of schemes that have been verified by independent third party experts.”

Network's carbon offset initiative will form part of its EcoDealer product due out later this year.

This is aimed at helping dealers market environmentally led cars while at the same time making their dealership more attractive to environmentally concious customers.

Network teamed up with carbon offset specialists Carbon Creditz to launch the scheme.