carboNZero programme rolls out the green carpet

carboNZero programme rolls out the green carpet on St Patrick’s Day

With 8 million tonnes of greenhouse gases (GHG) under management, 170,000 tonnes of GHG offsets undertaken, 275 certifications issued, 250+ organisations contracted to become certified, and international licences in place, the carboNZero programme is without doubt a true New Zealand success story. Now, with its UK partners, it will be expanding services to cover the Emerald Isle.

Backed by over a decade of research at leading Crown Research Institute Landcare Research, the carboNZero programme is New Zealand’s preferred GHG emissions management and reduction scheme, offering optional mitigation strategies through the provision of credible and verified offsets.

Maintaining a leading position has nothing to do with the ‘luck of the Irish’; the team placed credibility and integrity as top priority and in doing this they sought the highest level of guarantee. Consequently, they now claim some of the world’s leading brands as their clients including the likes of Emirates.

Not many Kiwis will know that little old New Zealand punches well above its weight when it comes to carbon footprinting, and this can be attributed to the carboNZero programme – the world’s first internationally accredited GHG certification scheme and the first ISO 14065 accredited GHG verifier outside of the USA. This means the carboNZero programme offers a certification mark that is accepted in 50 major world economies, including Ireland.

It is worth noting that the carboNZero programme is the country’s most awarded GHG certification scheme, with numerous awards both in sustainability and marketing. Most recently, the carboNZero programme was the Canterbury and Upper South Island's regional winner for the 'Fastest Growing Business Services' category and was placed 11th fastest growing business overall at the Deloitte Fast 50 Awards. The team also won two categories at the PWC Sustainable 60 Awards for governance and marketing.

As a national winner of the Vero Business Excellence Awards, the team at carboNZero walk the talk ensuring that when it comes to making credible GHG certification claims their certified organisations only get the very best. An example of this is Emirates luxury Australian eco-resort – the first hotel in the world to achieve carboNZero certification.

The Emirates chain is just one example of a growing number of international companies turning to this Kiwi global leader for help in measuring its carbon footprint as new legislation and pressure from environmental lobbyists force companies to assess how their operations affect the environment.

“Emirates has built its success upon operating at the highest level of credibility and integrity. When seeking carbon neutral status, naturally these same standards applied, which is why we chose a solution that was science-based, third-party verified and aligned with both international best practice and the new Australian legislation,” says Tony Williams, Senior Vice President, Resorts and Projects, Emirates Hotels and Resorts.

Assurance from some of the United Kingdom’s leading businesses is testament to the standing of the programme.

According to Nick Main, Deloittes’ London-based Global Managing Partner, Climate Change and Sustainability, “…there are a number of claims of carbon neutrality which are of questionable reliability. carbonNZero certification provides assurance to consumers that the claims are made against independently generated standards, programmes that have been verified and results that have been independently assured.”

When it comes to celebrating green on St Patrick’s, no one has the same genuine business credentials as our green heroes from down under.

ENDS