The World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) announced two new international environmental standards yesterday.
The Carbon Trust, an independent not for profit company set up by the UK Government will be the first organisation in the country to offer a service certifying to the WRI and the WBCSD’s new international standard for measuring and reporting product carbon footprints.
The standards are expected to make it easier for businesses to monitor the whole range of their carbon emissions, so that they are better able to report on them.
The Carbon Trust will provide businesses with a form of accreditation, whereby they can display the internationally recognised Carbon Label. This label shows that a business and its products comply with the new standards. Over the past several years, the Trust has certified products to the existing carbon footprint standard – PAS 2050 – against which many brands, such as Walkers Crisps; Kingsmill and Silver Spoon have successfully achieved year-on-year carbon emissions reductions.
Harry Morrison, director of the Carbon Trust Certification said: “Internationally-recognised standards; against which organisations can measure and reduce product carbon footprints are vital to addressing climate change.”
Pankaj Bhatia, GHG Protocol director at the WRI said: “This certification will be a helpful addition to Product Standard inventory reports when they are reported to consumers, We look forward to working with Carbon Trust to develop additional guidance and product specifications to support the use of Carbon Trust Certification in conformance with our standard.”
George Archer
