A carbon emission label or carbon label describes the carbon dioxide emissions embodied in a product. The world's first carbon label, which shows this carbon footprint embodied in a product in bringing it to the shelf, was introduced in the UK in 2006 by the Carbon Trust. Examples of products featuring their carbon footprint are Walkers Crisps, innocent Smoothies and Boots plc shampoos, which all featured the label from March 2007. By 2008 many other products featured the carbon reduction label including Tesco on an initial 20 own-range products such as orange juice and washing powder. HBOS feature it on their online bank account. The Carbon Trust label also requires companies to commit to reduce the embodied carbon in the labeled product or they lose the right to feature the label. An independent panel is currently verifying the process alongside Defra and the British Standards Institute BSI and a new standard PAS2050 is due to be introduced in mid-2008. As of August 2009, Defra is undertaking a radical rethink of the food industry on issues of security and sustainability, among many things proposing a green labelling scheme for food products.
Other versions now exist , one of them, the CarbonCounted version of the carbon label, which started in January 2007, uses a live carbon supply chain to determine the amount of carbon dioxide emitted to bring a product to market. This third party certified system, based on an open standard, eliminates the need for heavy auditing and guess work associated with values determined when using isolated accounting methods. This also addresses how to consistently and fairly apply the smaller details such as the heating, cooling, lighting etc. in the shops the products are sold in.
Another label initiative started in spring 2008 in Switzerland. The independent association climatop labels the most climate friendly products with their label «approved by climatop». In contrast to the label of Carbon Trust, this label does not indicate the carbon footprint of a specific product, it labels those products out of a comparable group of products with a remarkably lower carbon charge. As a rule of thumb, products have to be at least 20% better as other products from the same category. Therefore life cycle assessments or the products are calculated by independent offices, and the calculations are reviewed by a third party. Beside the fact that it has to be proven that those products have a lower climate charge, the products also have to fulfil several environmental and social standards. Examples of labeled products can be found at the Swiss retailer Migros, such as an organic fair trade sugar from Paraguay, recycling kitchen towels or laundry detergents.
California state representative Ira Ruskin sponsored a carbon labeling bill--the Carbon Labeling Act of 2009--in the California state legislature, which has been voted out of the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources. The act would require the State Air Resources Board to develop and implement a program for the voluntary assessment, verification, and standardized labeling of the carbon footprint of consumer products sold in the state.
Japan started launching a carbon footprint labelling scheme in 2008. The labels, to appear on dozens of items including food and drink, will provide detailed breakdowns of each product's carbon footprint under a government-approved calculation and labeling system.
In July 2009, Wal-Mart announced an environmental labeling program for its products. The intent is to create over the next five years a universal rating system, that scores products based on how environmentally and socially sustainable they are over the course of their lives. Wal-Mart’s goal is to have other retailers eventually adopt the indexing system.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/
Showing posts with label Carbon economy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carbon economy. Show all posts
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
CO2 Australia Limited
CO2 Australia Limited (CO2 Australia) is Australia's largest provider of dedicated carbon sink plantings, established and managed for intended registration under formal emissions reduction schemes. It is the main operating entity of CO2 Group Limited (CO2 Group), which is a public company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX).
Dedicated forest carbon sink plantings provide a cost effective way to build a Carbon Bank for the future, allowing organisations to meet emissions management or environmental obligations. CO2 Australia manages over 12,500 hectares of carbon plantings across New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia.
A fully accredited provider of carbon permits, CO2 Australia became the first reforestation company to be accredited under the NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme (GGAS) in 2004. CO2 Australia is the provider of choice for organisations seeking to manage their greenhouse gas emissions profile, including under the Federal Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS). Credits under this scheme are fully auditable.
CO2 Australia works closely with the farming community across the Australian wheatbelt to integrate the mallee environmental plantings into existing farming and grazing systems. For a property to be considered suitable for use by CO2 Australia is must comply with the Kyoto Protocol, cleared of forest prior to 31 December 1989. Eligible forestry includes freehold land that receives a minimum of 350 millimeters average rainfall per annum that also provides over 50 hectares for mallee plantings.
CO2 Australia Carbon Sequestration Program™
Carbon sequestration is the process whereby trees absorb carbon dioxide in the roots, trunk, branches, twigs, bark and leaves as they grow and release oxygen back into the atmosphere. CO2 Australia makes arrangements to protect the trees for at least 100 years.
The CO2 Australia Carbon Sequestration Program™ improves biodiversity and reduces the risk of soil erosion and salinity. The program involves establishing long-term (great than 100 years) plantings of mallee eucalypts for the purpose of generating carbon permits, at a commercial scale unsurpassed in the industry.
CO2 Australia has conducted extensive research and development on the performance of the native mallee eucalypt trees used in carbon plantings. The mallees are long lived, drought tolerant, can survive intense fires and develops an extensive root system, allowing for a large, protected, underground carbon store. Through selective breeding, CO2 Australia has produced high performing seed lines, developed to have rapid rates of growth and carbon sequestration.
Company Background
In 2004, CO2 became the first reforestation company to be accredited under the New South Wales Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme (GGAS). From 2004 to 2005, CO2 Australia became a supplier of carbon credits for Origin Energy and Country Energy, and established forest carbon sinks for Eraring Energy in Australia.
CO2 Australia entered a joint venture with Macquarie Bank Limited to establish and manage a forest carbon sink in 2006. During the same year, CO2 was engaged by the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment to undertake plantings. CO2 Group also became the first Australian Associate Member and a listed Offset Provider under the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX). CCX operates North America’s only cap and trade system for all six greenhouse gases, with global affiliates and projects worldwide.
In 2007, CO2 Australia became the first reforestation company to become an accredited abatement provider under the Australian Government’s Greenhouse Friendly™ program. In the following year, CO2 Australia announced projects for INPEX/Total Browse JV, Newmont Mining Corporation and Rip Curl. CO2 Australia also has contracts to establish and manage forest carbon sinks on behalf of Qantas Airways, Woodside Energy, the City of Sydney, EDS Australia and the Big Day Out.
CO2 Group Limited
CO2 Group Limited is a public company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). The company specialises in the commercialisation of business opportunities within the environmental services sector. The formation of CO2 Australia, a Socially Responsible Investment Company, is CO2 Group’s first major initiative.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/
Dedicated forest carbon sink plantings provide a cost effective way to build a Carbon Bank for the future, allowing organisations to meet emissions management or environmental obligations. CO2 Australia manages over 12,500 hectares of carbon plantings across New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia.
A fully accredited provider of carbon permits, CO2 Australia became the first reforestation company to be accredited under the NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme (GGAS) in 2004. CO2 Australia is the provider of choice for organisations seeking to manage their greenhouse gas emissions profile, including under the Federal Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS). Credits under this scheme are fully auditable.
CO2 Australia works closely with the farming community across the Australian wheatbelt to integrate the mallee environmental plantings into existing farming and grazing systems. For a property to be considered suitable for use by CO2 Australia is must comply with the Kyoto Protocol, cleared of forest prior to 31 December 1989. Eligible forestry includes freehold land that receives a minimum of 350 millimeters average rainfall per annum that also provides over 50 hectares for mallee plantings.
CO2 Australia Carbon Sequestration Program™
Carbon sequestration is the process whereby trees absorb carbon dioxide in the roots, trunk, branches, twigs, bark and leaves as they grow and release oxygen back into the atmosphere. CO2 Australia makes arrangements to protect the trees for at least 100 years.
The CO2 Australia Carbon Sequestration Program™ improves biodiversity and reduces the risk of soil erosion and salinity. The program involves establishing long-term (great than 100 years) plantings of mallee eucalypts for the purpose of generating carbon permits, at a commercial scale unsurpassed in the industry.
CO2 Australia has conducted extensive research and development on the performance of the native mallee eucalypt trees used in carbon plantings. The mallees are long lived, drought tolerant, can survive intense fires and develops an extensive root system, allowing for a large, protected, underground carbon store. Through selective breeding, CO2 Australia has produced high performing seed lines, developed to have rapid rates of growth and carbon sequestration.
Company Background
In 2004, CO2 became the first reforestation company to be accredited under the New South Wales Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme (GGAS). From 2004 to 2005, CO2 Australia became a supplier of carbon credits for Origin Energy and Country Energy, and established forest carbon sinks for Eraring Energy in Australia.
CO2 Australia entered a joint venture with Macquarie Bank Limited to establish and manage a forest carbon sink in 2006. During the same year, CO2 was engaged by the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment to undertake plantings. CO2 Group also became the first Australian Associate Member and a listed Offset Provider under the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX). CCX operates North America’s only cap and trade system for all six greenhouse gases, with global affiliates and projects worldwide.
In 2007, CO2 Australia became the first reforestation company to become an accredited abatement provider under the Australian Government’s Greenhouse Friendly™ program. In the following year, CO2 Australia announced projects for INPEX/Total Browse JV, Newmont Mining Corporation and Rip Curl. CO2 Australia also has contracts to establish and manage forest carbon sinks on behalf of Qantas Airways, Woodside Energy, the City of Sydney, EDS Australia and the Big Day Out.
CO2 Group Limited
CO2 Group Limited is a public company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). The company specialises in the commercialisation of business opportunities within the environmental services sector. The formation of CO2 Australia, a Socially Responsible Investment Company, is CO2 Group’s first major initiative.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/
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