UK Uni parents emit twice as much CO2 as Ash Cloud Volcano

Aug. 23, 2010 - PRLog -- A new study by the UK’s low cost delivery service for students has found that the average fuel cost in the UK for transporting student belongings to and from university is £192 million per year. In total, parents taking their children’s belongings to and from uni emit 291k tonnes of CO2[1] every year – twice as much CO2 as Iceland’s Eyjafjoell volcano[2]; which grounded flights across the world with a giant ash cloud, emitted every day.

The research, commissioned by low cost student baggage delivery service www.UniBaggage.com asked 1,196 parents if they helped their children move their belongings to and from student housing throughout their three years at university. In the academic year of 2008 – 2009 there were 2,396,050 university students in the UK.

According to the study, 89% of the parents polled helped their children move their possessions to each of their student accommodations throughout their three years at university. The average cost to take children’s’ belongings to universities, according to parents, was ‘£30’ per journey there and back.

The results show that the average return car journey parents travel to transport their children’s possessions is 180 miles and lasts 4 hours. With each parent spending an average of £90 on fuel per year, the total cost for a standard 3 year degree course would cost each parent £270 in fuel alone. Many degrees are for longer durations.

The study found that the majority, 72%, of parents that helped their children move travelled an average of 180 miles in the car. With each mile driven in the UK’s most popular car, the Ford Focus 1.6[3], 252.7 grams of CO2 is emitted. As the study found parents travelled 180 miles per trip; each journey emits 45,486 grams of CO2 per journey. Multiplied by the number of parents that said they helped children with their belongings to and from uni, this figure rose to 290,994 tonnes of CO2 per year.

As the study found that the average return trip takes parents 4 hours, each parent spends a total of 36 hours travelling in the duration their child is at university. In total UK parents spend 76.8 million man hours travelling on British roads couriering student belongings.
UniBaggage.com is urging students to research more cost-effective ways to transport their belongings whilst studying at university. UniBaggage.com is the only site offering a low-cost efficient alternative with regards to student baggage delivery. The service was launched to help students transport their belongings to and from university at an affordable price.

The service also helps to protect the environment, as couriers can carry baggage in the direction they are already travelling.

Since the launch of the site 8 months ago, UniBaggage.com has delivered more than 1,200 items, weighing a total of 36 tonnes for students in one term alone.

UniBaggage.com has unique partnerships with courier companies such as Parcel Force which allow students to ship their belongings for just £12 with next day delivery to Mainland UK. Uni Baggage also covers Northern Ireland, Scottish Highlands and Islands.
Paul Stewart, Founder of UniBaggage.com had the following to say,

“This research has really shown a “hidden” cost that many students and parents do not always think about or budget for. As tuition fees are rising students will have to balance their money wisely and think of new ways they can save. The cost in terms of the amount parents spend on fuel is bad enough, but to know that so many carbon-heavy needless journeys are being made proves that a service such as Uni Baggage is the cheaper and more environmentally friendly option.”

He continues,

“Most parents wouldn’t begrudge spending the time taking their child to university along with their baggage, but in these post-recession times, if we’re able to help cut costs, financially and with regards to the environment in any way, we’re happy to help. The fact that parents are emitting 2 days worth of volcanic pollution simply taking their children’s baggage to university is absolutely crazy!”

***ENDS***

If you would like any more information, or to arrange an interview with Paul Stewart please contact Rich Leigh on 01452 348211 or email rich@10yetis.co.uk
Link: http://www.UniBaggage.com

Notes to editors

UniBaggage.com is the low cost delivery network for Students. The service has been available for 8 months and has successfully couriered over 1,200 packages around the UK
The simple aim is to get students belongings to and from university at a lower cost
The service has no hidden costs and does not charge for credit card fees, VAT, or fuel surcharge.

UniBaggage.com has built a strong relationship with respectable and international couriers, such as Parcel Force, who allows them to send packages up to 30kg to any location in the UK.