Why Have Hertz's Emissions Trebled to 24 Million Tonnes?

In the sustainability game, data is everything. Sustainability is a broad church, encompassing everything from carbon emissions to fair wages but a great deal of it comes down to figures on a spreadsheet.

As such, measuring data correctly is of the highest importance. After all, if a company or government cannot present its progress properly, they (and the people they serve) cannot fully understand whether things are definitively moving in the right direction.

With this in mind, Hertz, the world's leading car rental service, has taken a bold and scarcely-made decision.

The company has decided to redraw its baseline for greenhouse gas emissions reporting, meaning that, from now on, Hertz's decarbonisation will be measured against a 2024 starting point.

The firm says that this decision is based on vast improvements in the data that is now available to it, including Scope 3 Category 11 emissions from sold vehicles, which it now takes into account.

In Hertz's recently released 2024 Sustainability & Impact Report, the company's emissions reached 26.2 million metric tonnes of CO₂ equivalent in 2024, a massive increase from 8.8 million in 2023.

However, this growth stems mostly from the company's expanded data collection, rather than any significant operational changes.

With these new figures to account for, Hertz believes that the goalposts have changed in its pursuit of its net zero targets, so it will wipe the slate clean from this year on.

Fleet modernisation and a focus on safety

Elsewhere in the report, Hertz details how it has invested heavily in newer, more fuel-efficient internal combustion engine vehicles across 2024, as well as hybrid vehicles that blend EV and ICEV technologies.

The firm reports that around 77% of its North American fleet received a five-star safety rating from New Car Assessment Programs, an increase from 73% in 2023.

"The Hertz brand today is built upon decades of earned trust from our customers, in delivering a seamless and consistent experience," says Vikram Rajagopalan, Vice President of Customer Experience at Hertz.

The company's Net Promoter Score increased by 11 points between June 2024 and June 2025, which management attributes to operational improvements and fleet quality enhancements.

The impact of Hertz's rideshare programme

In 2024, Hertz's rideshare business saw its cars travel approximately 1.5 billion miles in the US alone.

The programme, which partners with major ridesharing platforms Uber and Lyft, allows drivers that do not own their own vehicles to earn income through flexible rental arrangements.

In that programme, Hertz has found that EV adoption has gained some significant traction, with drivers logging more than 652 million EV miles in 2024, up from 601 million the previous year.

The firm has also expanded its rideshare offering into European markets, including Amsterdam, Lyon and Paris, where EV rentals can help drivers avoid urban emissions charges.

Behind Hertz's workforce development initiatives

The company committed over US$97,500 to the TechForce Foundation in 2024, supporting 65 students pursuing automotive technician education.

This addresses an anticipated shortage of 87,000 automotive technicians needed due to industry growth by 2028, according to TechForce Foundation data.

Hertz also donated salvaged vehicles and provided US$40,000 in grants through the Collision Repair Education Foundation, benefiting 270 students in collision repair programmes.

"Our mission is clear: to run a sharper operation today, while keeping customers at the centre of everything we do, operating more sustainably and building a workforce ready to lead in the next era of mobility," explains Gil West, the firm's CEO.

Hertz's environmental operations

The company implemented water-efficient cleaning technology at approximately 50 European locations, using EcoPrep steam systems that consume over 90% less water than conventional methods.

This initiative saved an estimated 13.6 million gallons of water whilst cleaning more than 515,000 vehicles in 2024.

Hertz initiated a global climate risk and opportunities assessment in 2024, expected to conclude in 2025, examining physical risks and transition scenarios including policy changes and carbon pricing models.

The company's headquarters in Estero, Florida maintains LEED Gold certification and features rooftop solar panels contributing to site electricity needs.

What does the future hold for Hertz's net zero ambitions?

While Hertz's decision to shift its baseline for emissions reporting will look as though the company is starting sustainability from scratch, its leadership team is confident that it is well positioned to be a leader of the future.

"Looking ahead, we know the mobility industry is changing rapidly," says Gil. "Connected technologies and autonomous vehicles will reshape how people move. Hertz is positioned to lead in this future."

New technologies like this form an important part of the company's plan in the short and medium term. What's more, measuring and logging all its data correctly is a good way to see the full impact of new innovations and acquisitions such as these.

"Our experience managing large, complex fleets, including EVs, provides the foundation for scaling tomorrow’s fleets safely and efficiently," Gil says.