Yes. A business can work towards carbon neutrality by measuring its greenhouse gas emissions, reducing them where possible and addressing the remaining emissions using appropriate carbon credits or other recognised measures.
The first step is normally to calculate the organisation’s carbon footprint. Depending on the scope of the assessment, this may include direct emissions from fuels and company vehicles, emissions associated with purchased electricity and indirect emissions from areas such as business travel, waste, purchased goods and the supply chain.
Once the footprint is understood, the business can identify practical opportunities to reduce it. Measures could include improving the energy efficiency of buildings and equipment, reducing unnecessary energy consumption, changing transport arrangements or procuring lower-carbon energy.
Carbon credits may be used to address emissions that remain, but purchasing credits does not remove the need for a credible carbon reduction strategy.
Any carbon-neutral claim should also state what it covers. For example, carbon neutrality relating only to a particular product, site or activity should not be presented as though the entire organisation is carbon neutral.
