Getting Carbon Neutral Accreditation?

thriftybeatnik

Hi All

I do my best to use recycled packaging / saving energy etc and was wondering how I go about getting official accrediation for this. Obviously there's alot of companies out the offering this service but Im wondering what the official way forward is?

Thank you for your help

borders_dude

thriftybeatnik wrote: »

...but Im wondering what the official way forward is?

...

If there is one.. .. .. ..

cirrusmp

I don't know that there is an "official" accreditation (I assume you mean something like the ISO standards), however there are a few commercial operations out there which will allow you to use a carbon neutral logo, look to me like they operate similar to the CHAS scheme.

Few links:

http://www.carbon-neutral-website.org/
http://www.carbonneutral.com/

Hope this helps

MP

Owain_Moneysaver

Getting full ISO compliance can be overkill for small businesses, you could try something like the Green Dragon programme (it is available outside Wales, I emailed and checked)
http://www.groundworkinwales.org.uk/greendragon/index.html
"Companies and organisations achieving Levels Three, Four and Five are also eligible to purcahse a plaque and are able to display the Green Dragon logo on their stationery and marketing materials. Displaying the Green Dragon logo demonstrates to customers and other interested parties that the company is committed to environmental management."

mayflower29

You could start by getting your carbon footprint measured, and then if you wanted to pursue being carbon neutral this would then tell you how much you would need to offset. Offsetting is quite controversial...so instead of saying you were carbon neutral you could just start with setting targets to reduce the impact you have. I work in marketing for a green company and so we've considered all the carbon routes - I think people are quite cynical of 'carbon neutral' now. it might be better just to make real efforts to reduce the footprint you actually havem than pay for it to be offset and therefore neutral.

If you google 'carbon footprint for business' loads of companies pop up - the only ones I have had any experience with are he Carbon Trust and Best Foot Forward. The carbon trust give advice so you could start by asking them.
hope this helps

SpiceGirl_2

If you want something official, then the Carbon Trust would be the best route to pursue, as it's a Governmnt backed body. Other commercial companies do carbon surveys, but I don't know how 'official' you could describe validation from them.