Europcar is introducing a scheme later this year that will allow rental customers to offset the carbon emissions caused by their rental.

The scheme will be voluntary and the rental giant – who handle more than 10 million rentals each year across Europe – expect around 5% of customers to opt in. Customers will have to pay for the service, although charges have not yet been announced.

Europcar Group’s chief executive officer, Salvatore Catania, said that the scheme “will be rolled out to all countries” and “is not a marketing tool, it is part of a 10 year commitment we have shown to the environment.”