Brits Refuse to Live Without Their Wheels on International Car Free Day on 22nd September

88% of the UK Unaware of Global Initiative

LONDON - September 20, 2007: ibuyeco, the eco-friendly UK car insurance company, can reveal that the huge green movement is not affecting our love of the car. In fact, 35% of UK residents believe their car usage will actually increase in the future. Only 12% of people questioned were aware of International Car Free Day on 22nd September and when made aware of this global initiative, 72% of respondents stated that they would not consider taking part.

The survey from ibuyeco also reveals that 22% of the population believe that Britain is doing more than its fair share to combat carbon emissions, compared to other countries. It's not all bad news for the environment though as 79% of us feel we've personally become more 'green' in the past year.

'Work' topped the bill as the main reason most felt it impossible to give up their vehicles, however 'shopping' came in a close second, followed by 'visiting family'. Three quarters of those who took part in the survey stated that public transport was not a viable alternative to using the car, predominantly blaming time implications, delays, cost and lack of convenience.

Other key findings included:

- The Irish are least willing to support International Car Free Day with only 14% of them saying they'd give up their vehicle for the day

- Nearly 10% more women than men would consider giving up their car for International Car Free day

- 7% of the population haven't done anything at all to become greener in the past year

- 12% more women than men have become 'greener' in the past year by taking up initiatives around the home such as recycling

- Recycling is the most common 'green' activity with 80% of the UK now recycling household waste

- People in the North East worry most about the environment, nearly double that of the next group (London)

- People in the South East are least likely to give up their cars and are least concerned about 'green' car issues

- Wales is most likely to contribute to International Car Free Day by going a day without their motor vehicle

- Nearly twice as many women as men are worried about overcrowding on public transport

Car usage therefore looks set to rise, however for car owners with a conscience, ibuyeco provides a practical solution to helping protect the environment. With ibuyeco, drivers can now counter the damage done by their cars to the environment by offsetting all of their CO2 emissions for the duration of their policy.

One of the first schemes of its kind in the UK, ibuyeco offers competitively priced insurance, inclusive of the carbon offsetting fee which compensates for the annual CO2 emissions of the car. These emissions are calculated according to DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) guidelines and are based on the car's engine size, fuel type and annual mileage of the vehicle.

The offsetting contribution from each policy goes towards the funding of specific projects via The CarbonNeutral Company (TCNC), one of the world's leading full service carbon management businesses. The projects fall into different categories, including energy efficiency, reforestation and renewable energy, and are based both home and abroad.

Editor's Notes:

- The survey was commissioned by ibuyeco and conducted by 72 point with over 1500 respondents.

- The CarbonNeutral Company is the world's leading full service carbon management business, enabling businesses and individuals to tackle their climate change impacts in a way which delivers value - commercial, environmental, personal. Clients include: Silverjet, Avis Europe, American Express, Honda, Berkely Homes, Barclays Bank, BSkyB, Crystal Holidays, Royal & Sun Alliance, Volvo, Lex, Radio Taxis Group, Euro RSCG, Ricoh, and Bovis Lend Lease.

- In London alone, 2.3 million tonnes of CO2 are produced each year from London road traffic, equivalent to a jumbo jet flying to the moon and back 71 times.

- ibuyeco was launched by the BGL Group Ltd in June 2007. The BGL Group Ltd (the Group) was founded in 1992 and has grown to become one of the UK's largest personal lines insurance intermediaries, through a combination of organic growth and a series of major strategic acquisitions (the last major acquisition was five years ago).