Carbon neutral guidance is 'greenwash'

The Government has been accused of 'greenwash' for issuing new advice to companies that suggests carbon offsetting can be used to improve environmental credentials.

By Louise Gray, Environment CorrespondentPublished: 6:46PM BST 01 Oct 2009
The Department for the Environment published guidance to help businesses go green through installing insulation, encouraging employees to walk to work and recycling more.
It also issued a definition of carbon neutral companies as those that "through a transparent process of calculating emissions, reducing those emissions and offsetting residual emissions – net carbon emissions equal zero".

Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for the Environment, said companies could be doing a huge amount to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by working more efficiently.
"Businesses have an opportunity to lead the way on the UK's climate change agenda and this guidance helps them do that. Measuring your GHG emissions is an important first step in addressing the UK's contribution to the UK's total emissions," he said. "By reducing them, organisations can save money on energy costs and resource efficiencies – as well as maintaining a competitive edge through strengthening their green credentials"
But Mike Childs, Head of Climate Change at Friends of the Earth, said the definition of carbon neutral was "greenwash".
He said carbon offsetting is not necessarily good for the environment as the tree-planting schemes and renewable energy projects that are sponsored by buying "carbon credits" would be happening anyway and therefore do not take carbon out of the atmosphere. He also said it was unfair on companies genuinely trying to go carbon neutral by ensuring all energy is from renewable sources in the UK.
Mr Childs said the advice issued to businesses may help but without financial incentives and practical help few companies would bother.
"The definition of carbon neutral is greenwash and the guidance on its own will not help business," he said.