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A new Carbon Neutral Program is to be implemented by the Australian Carbon Trust, the Federal Government has announced.
Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water, Senator Penny Wong, says the Carbon Neutral Program – an initiative of the National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS) – will allow businesses to certify their products, services or operations as carbon neutral.
Businesses will be able to apply to the Carbon Trust for use of the NCOS logo (pictured right). If they are successful, they will be able to use this logo to market their products and services.
“This program will benefit consumers by giving them greater certainty about whether a product is truly carbon neutral,” Senator Wong says.
Businesses that have already indicated their intention to participate in the Carbon Neutral Program include: An Meá, Australian Paper, Australia Post, ANZ, Carbon Planet, Foster’s, Jetstar, Keytek, National Australia Bank, Lion Nathan, Printer Workz, Qantas, Sensis, Sustainable Living Fabrics and Virgin Blue Airlines.
Professor Robert Hill, chairman of the Australian Carbon Trust, encourages additional Australian businesses to participate in the Carbon Neutral Program.
“The Carbon Neutral Program will provide a benchmark for consumers and businesses to assess claims of carbon neutrality,’’ Professor Hill says.
The National Carbon Offset Standard, which commenced on 1 July 2010, aims to provide national consistency and consumer confidence in the voluntary carbon market. The Carbon Neutral program will replace the carbon neutral component of the Greenhouse Friendly program, which ended on 30 June 2010. It will be administered by the Australian Carbon Trust.