PAS 2050 - environment performance adds value

For Immediate release
Media Release

29th October 2008

PAS 2050 due to be released - improved environmental performance adds value

To meet the growing market for sustainable goods, a New Zealand based consultancy business is helping companies implement and benefit from better environmental practices.

Aura Sustainability CEO, Roger Kerrison, says there is a considerable proactive push by companies to get their sustainability credentials in order:

``Until businesses start measuring environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions, and putting plans in-place to reduce them, they will have no evidence to benefit under regulatory schemes as the ETS,’’ he said.

``The impending release of the PAS 2050 [Publically Available Standard: 2050: 2008 - Specification for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services.] standard will also mean that early adopters who voluntarily extend their scope to include the measurement of the lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with their products, will be well placed to gain additional market access through putting a carbon labels on their products.’’

Aura Sustainability was set up in early 2008 when Kerrison departed his role as Sustainable Development Manager at the Grove Mill Winery. The business success of the “Sustainability Roadmap” he helped design and implement with fellow Aura director, Dave Pearce, has been well documented. [Gilkison, B. Perfect timing for world’s first carbon neutral winery. Chartered Accountants Journal. May 2008]

Grove Mill remains an Aura client and has recently achieved carboNZeroCert TM re-certification with Aura’s assistance. Kerrison says it is an example of a company that had the vision from the very top to align its business and environmental objectives; and as a result it’s paid off for them in the marketplace.

``There is a growing market for sustainable goods and services - whether carbon neutral, carbon measured, organic or fair trade,’’ says Kerrison. ``It’s well accepted that international markets have a huge amount of product choice in them. The customer’s spend can go to a wide selection of suppliers, having a sustainable accreditation adds one more reason why that supplier may be you.’’

When a business decides to measure its carbon footprint it’s crucial that they get it right and that the results can ultimately stand up to the independent scrutiny of an auditor. International standards, such as ISO 14064, the GHG Protocol and ISO14040 exist to underpin the current measurement process, and the release of the PAS 2050 will strengthen this foundation.

``Measuring your carbon footprint will be of limited external benefit, unless you have it verified to relevant standards’’ says Kerrison.

``To use the already quoted example of Grove Mill’s re-certification: Landcare Research’s suite of measurement, reduction and offset programmes require participants to comply with ISO 14064-1 and ISO 14040. Therefore the process stands up to the most rigorous scrutiny.’’

As a warning to exporters, Mr Kerrison also believes that UK supermarkets will be passing carbon measurement requirements down their supply chain.

``The large UK retailers have spent a lot of time and money assisting British Standards and DEFRA develop the PAS 2050. It seems likely they will be asking suppliers to publish GHG emissions on labels in the near future, much like they did with nutritional labels in the 1980s.’’

Aura’s key market is the global food and beverage industry. Aura adds value to clients by assisting in aligning environmental and business objectives and by providing specialist greenhouse gas measurement and reduction services.

ENDS

Visit www.aurasustainability.com

For more information on greenhouse gas measurement, management and mitigation – www.carbonzero.co.nz

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