Carbon trust highlights role of offsetting

Businesses looking to become more environmentally efficient may be interested in news that carbon offsetting should be used only when other methods of efficiency have been utilised.

According to Hugh Jones, solutions director at the Carbon Trust, any carbon management strategy should view the process of carbon offsetting as a final stage in order for it to be fully effective.

Indeed, Mr Jones believes that such a strategy offers the twin benefits of reducing overall energy consumption costs, in addition to minimising the costs associated with carbon offsetting arrangements.

"Good quality offsetting should only be explored once all means to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions at source have been exhausted and companies have reduced emissions from their supply chain to deliver low carbon products and services," said Mr Jones.

Established in 2001 by the UK government, the Carbon Trust is an independent organisation with a mission objective of pursuing the switch to a economy that minimises the use of carbon.