Ten steps to manage your carbon footprint
6. Exploit market opportunities: As soon as the proposed CPRS scheme is initiated in 2013, businesses will be able to offset their residual emissions through the purchase of carbon permits or certified credits.
7. Communicate: Your carbon footprint can serve a number of purposes. The primary goal is to manage emissions risk and identify reductions opportunities. It can also be useful to inform stakeholders and manage their needs. Engagement with employees may prove a useful way to identify carbon reduction opportunities, however carbon data and reduction opportunities will also be of interest to shareholders and voluntary reporting programs (Carbon Disclosure Project).
8. Benchmark and improve: Compare your carbon footprint with those of your peers and benchmark your performance to industry standards.
9. Stay informed: Manufacturers who have foresight of environmental requirements improve their chances of producing compliant, cost-effective products that meet customer demands. This includes monitoring regulatory developments and attending industry group events.
10. Obtain expert advice: To ensure the continuous improvement of your carbon management strategy including all its components, it is recommended to source expert advice from business advisory professionals who are technically competent. They will provide insight into your exposure to emissions reporting and support your business in defining the right scope to measure the carbon footprint and provide independent verification and assurance on your emissions reports.
A comprehensive carbon management strategy can give a manufacturing business significant advantage over its competitors in the future low-carbon economy.
–Benjamine Lahousse is responsible for the Climate Change and Sustainability Risk Services practice at RSM Bird Cameron (www.rsmi.com.au). It provides carbon risk business advisory services and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Statements assurance services.
My issue is that a the travel/tourism industry accounts for around 5% of the total generated CO2 but seems to be the most proactive with most airlines offering travelers the ability to offset their carbon emissions for their flight.
The point is that not all of the carriers make it as easy and transparent as VirginBlue seem to be doing.
Another idea would be to do a more detailed study to see where the transport logistics area could better manage deliveries and reduce impact by business better managing supply/stock levels.