In honor of Earth Day this Saturday, Caribbean charter provider Bohlke International Aviation has launched a new voluntary carbon-offset program for its customers. All this week, the St. Croix-based operator—which also runs the lone FBO at the island’s Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (TISX)—is offsetting 100 percent of the fuel used by its air charter division, a fleet that includes aircraft ranging from the Cessna Grand Caravan up to Dassault Falcon 900EX.

Starting on April 23, Bohlke’s charter customers can choose to voluntarily purchase carbon credits to offset their flights via a small fee applied to each gallon of jet fuel used. The company will subsidize half that extra cost to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability.

“We are so lucky to live in paradise and we'd like to do what we can to protect our resources for future generations,” said company president and St. Croix native William Bohlke. “This program is a small step in what is a much-needed global effort toward protecting our environment.”

Bohlke will work with Avfuel, its branded fuel supplier, to purchase carbon credits that will be used to support certified environmental programs in segments such as forestry; wind, solar, and tidal power; and biomass around the world.

Based on accepted calculations, one carbon credit offsets the use of approximately 100 gallons (380 liters) of jet fuel. In honor of Earth Day last year, Bohlke purchased credits to offset the emissions for four of its flights. That resulted in the offset of 10 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions and helped fund water purification programs in Cambodia.

“Bohlke is the first Caribbean-based air charter service provider to offer carbon offsetting,” explained Muneeb Ahmed, Avfuel’s director of trading and logistics. “We are honored to support this program, which is a huge stride in helping customers meet their sustainability goals.”