Media
release
07 July 2010
A new Carbon Neutral Program is to be implemented
by the Australian Carbon Trust, the Government
has today announced.
Minister for Climate
Change, Energy Efficiency and Water, Senator
Penny Wong, said 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 apply
to the Carbon Trust for use of the NCOS
logo (see below). 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 said.
“Consumers will be able
to be confident when they see a business
display the logo that they are committed
to reducing their emissions and becoming
carbon neutral.’’
Businesses that have
already indicated their intention to participate
in the Carbon Neutral Program include: An
Meá, Australian Paper, Australia
Post, ANZ, Carbon Planet, Fosters, 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,
encouraged further 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 said.
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.
More information on
NCOS or the Australian Carbon Trust.
