Laos, December 2024. EMI staff have ridden electric scooters (EV scooters) a combined 1.5 million kilometers, helping the institution reduce its carbon footprint.
How the scooter program started
In May 2023, EMI introduced 87 EV scooters for staff use. As of December 27, 2024, the scooters had avoided about 203.82 tonnes of CO2 emissions, helped improve air quality and saved about 2.02 billion LAK (about 93,437 USD) in fuel costs. The initiative also gives clients and the community an example of sustainable practice.
What the numbers mean
- Around the globe 36 times. The distance covered by EMI staff equals circling the globe 36 times.
- 8,842 trees or 43 cars. Avoiding 203.82 tonnes of CO2 is comparable to planting about 8,842 trees or taking about 43 cars off the road for a year.
- 88,235 liters of gasoline avoided. This helps reduce Laos’ dependence on imported fuel.
- Savings for the community. The fuel savings can go toward community projects and other sustainability work.
“This milestone reflects EMI’s steadfast commitment to sustainability. By adopting EV scooters, we have not only reduced our operational costs but also made a meaningful contribution to combating climate change. The enthusiasm displayed by our staff for this initiative reinforces our belief that small actions can lead to substantial impacts.”
Mr. Somphone Sisenglath, Managing Director of EMI
What comes next
EMI plans to expand its environmental work. Next steps include:
- Promoting EVs among staff and clients through green financing.
- Training communities on environmental awareness and sustainable practices.
- Looking at renewable energy, such as solar panels at EMI offices, to use less non-renewable energy.
Join us
EMI invites partners and the wider community to work with us toward a more sustainable Laos.
About EMI. Ekphatthana Deposit-Taking Microfinance Institution (EMI), http://www.emimfi.com, is a provider of responsible financial services in Laos. EMI offers loans, savings and financial literacy programs for communities, and builds green initiatives into its operations with a triple bottom line in mind: social, environmental and financial results.
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