A seven-year-old's first school lesson on the environment has led to the latest in a series of breakthrough emission-reducing initiatives by a leading not-for-profit company.

Madison Sauerwald learned at school of the effects of emissions from motor vehicles, which led her mum Michelle and dad Lee to order the Australian-built Toyota Hybrid Camry as their next company car.

Lee Sauerwald, the manager, finance, of UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide, is in charge of a fleet of 100 company vehicles.

His first move behind the wheel of a hybrid car could be the forerunner of a growing hybrid presence in his company's fleet.

"Our policy is a preference for vehicles which have four or five-star ratings in both green guide emissions and safety," Lee said.

"Environmental concern is high on our list of priorities."

UnitingCare Wesley participates in a carbon neutrality program run by South Australian dealer CMI Toyota.

The emissions of each of the vehicles in the company's predominately Toyota fleet are offset by eucalypts specially planted in a forest in the Adelaide Hills.

Wesley contributes $200 for each of its vehicles (and up to $300 for each of its larger 6-cylinder vehicles) to plant and maintain its part of the forest as part of CMI's Carbon Neutral program, with the sum spread over each vehicle's three-year (or 60,000km) cycle on the company fleet.

"It's similar to airline carbon offsets and it's a responsible way to run a fleet of vehicles," Lee said.

Wesley also car pools during the working day.

"All company cars go into the pool each day and are signed out depending on need, and to a degree, environmental impact," Lee said.

"The result has been to limit the day-to-day use of our fleet to essential transportation."

Lee stepped into Hybrid Camry out of Toyota's locally-made six-cylinder Aurion.

The Hybrid Camry has economy of six litres/100km and 142 grams/kilometre emissions.

"I can honestly say the new Hybrid is more than powerful enough for my needs - and it brings a new perspective to driving," Lee said.

"When I arrived back from my test drive the dashboard display read: excellent.

"I had no idea what that meant until it was pointed out that the car was monitoring the way I drove in terms of fuel economy.

"Now my family, especially Madison, keeps an eye on how well I score."