Corporate Carbon Explained

What is a carbon strategy?
A carbon strategy is a long-term action plan for businesses and their clients to deal with carbon emissions and reduce their future carbon footprint. The corporate carbon strategy will cover all areas of carbon emission, the affect on the environment, on brand and sales.

Why does a business need a carbon strategy?
Every company contributes to a greater or lesser degree to atmospheric carbon through carbon emissions via, plant, machinery, transport, travel and almost every area of their activity. Some company's emissions are deemed to be sufficiently high to be regulated by the government. Carbon emissions are a key contributor to climate change and as a result have a significant affect on both UK citizens and around the world. As we enter a world of increased corporate social responsibility where both consumers and employees are more concerned about the environment, a corporate carbon strategy makes both corporate and commercial good sense.

How will this benefit sales and profits?
Research from the Carbon Trust suggests that 75% of employees would like to work with a company that has an active carbon emissions policy. Employee satisfaction is a key driver of higher productivity and continuity of employment. Consumers have in the past 10 years demonstrated an increasing desire to purchase environmentally friendly products and services. The rise in organic sales and in Fairtrade products is one area of purchasing where there is a demonstrable increase in ethical and environmentally sound product sales. Company's who operate a carbon strategy will have an advantage in securing their brand value and help to maintain and attract sales from the environmentally aware consumer.

Do I have to have a carbon strategy?
There is currently no legal requirement to have a strategy in place unless in an industry currently regulated by government. However, the increased emphasis on reporting for corporate and social responsibility, the introduction of carbon trading, plus the collective failure of the UK to reduce emissions as agreed under the Kyoto Protocol, increases the likelihood of further government intervention in this area.

What support can The Carbon Consultancy offer?
The Carbon Consultancy will provide carbon emissions audits for air and road travel, support for product and communications strategies to ensure that companies adopt robust and integrated strategies that will deliver long term benefits. It is our recommendation that companies do not use pure offset strategies as their main approach and that any activity is a reflection of corporate commitment as opposed to short term public relations benefits.

What does it cost?
The cost of the company's services will vary according to the time and scope of its work on behalf of its clients. For a free consultation please contact our offices on 0845 644 8411.