You can enjoy financial and environmental benefits by tackling carbon emissions. Plus you'll also benefit from an improved CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) position. And because we offer measurable, quantifiable carbon offsetting, you can be safe in the knowledge that the action you're taking will get results.

Drivers for UK businesses

Shareholders, stakeholders and customers

These people are at the heart of your business. More and more of them are demanding a solid CSR plan and an active commitment to reducing carbon emissions from the companies they invest in. It's a significant move in the marketplace. Right now is the time for your company to lead the way in satisfying these crucial investor groups.

Share price

Your CSR policy really could have a positive impact on your revenue, profitability and share price. In the USA, companies with a defined CSR policy regularly outperform companies without. And having no policy in place to help reduce your carbon footprint could leave you open to damaging lobbyist action.

Carbon Trust survey

Regulatory

Benefit your business by offsetting your carbon emissions ahead of legislation. Organisations in the UK are already being taxed for failure to comply with environmental policies. And while there's no plan to tax organisations based on their carbon footprint, the Companies Act 2006 made it a legal requirement for companies to have a CSR policy. There are also regulations in place to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, including the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, Climate Change Levy and Building Regulations.

The introduction of environmental policies such as WEEE (the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive) means that carbon footprint taxation is likely in the future. So start your plan of action today.

To find out more about the carbon emissions of corporations, you can visit the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) website. CDP is an independent organisation that works with shareholders and corporations to disclose the greenhouse gas emissions of major corporations worldwide.

Staff

Every business wants to recruit and retain the best people who take pride in their organisation. Becoming a carbon neutral, ethically sound company can play a major part in making this happen. An increasing number of candidates, including new graduates, are choosing companies who are environmentally responsible, and are committed to their CSR policy.

Fleishman-Hilliard study, 1999

Suppliers

Tackle your carbon footprint now and don't wait to have your CSR policy imposed from outside. Companies that have failed to address carbon emissions have found themselves pressured by suppliers into joining them in following their CSR policy. Forward-thinking companies who want to stay ahead are committing to becoming carbon neutral as soon as possible.

New business

Becoming carbon neutral opens the door to new business opportunities, both nationally and globally.

Cost

The rising costs of energy, transport, waste disposal and raw materials mean it's possible for businesses to make a significant cost saving if they look at more environmentally friendly ways of working.

Sales

By becoming carbon neutral, businesses could experience a significant boost in revenue. Consumers want to buy ethical products from ethical companies. Supermarkets, for example, have shown increased sales as a result of offering Fairtrade products.

Largest global CO₂ emissions
by industrial sector

Community benefits

Public planting days, working with schools, youth projects and restoring ancient woodlands are just a few ways your business can get closer to the heart of your community. For example, Rolls-Royce are involved in an environmental education project at The National Forest, which works with schoolchildren and community groups. Community partnerships like this have a big PR value.

PR/media benefits

These are unique to each and every organisation. But as climate change becomes accepted as an issue of modern times, any creative and verifiable projects that help to tackle the problem have an immediate PR benefit for companies that choose to promote them.

Useful links

The Corporate Leader Group brings together business leaders from major UK and international companies who believe that there's an urgent need to develop policies for tackling climate change.