Ethical Corporation: Ford, Boots, and Kuoni Travel Reveal Their Carbon Reduction Strategies in a New Report

Business Wire, Sept 3, 2008

LONDON -- More companies find themselves hit by mandatory cap-and-trade carbon emissions schemes by national and regional government bodies.

Carbon markets are responding to the emerging schemes and adapting their products and services. Options and ease of access will eventually encourage trading and offsetting. At the moment, it is making corporate executives' heads spin.

As regulatory bodies introduce new rules, and carbon markets react, big business struggles to make sense of its trading and offsetting options.

Recent research by Ethical Corporation Institute, an ethical business research institute, finds that some companies have already developed solid emissions reductions strategies.

Leading companies reveal their trading and offsetting strategies in the new report Essential strategies for effective emissions trading and offsetting.

This practical report that serves as a reference guide to upcoming regulations and changes within the carbon markets and mandatory trading schemes. The report also provides practical information about the corporate benefits and downfalls of emissions trading and offsetting, based on 13 case studies of companies that have experience in carbon markets.

The Institute finds various motives among companies that trade or offset. Some companies offset to fulfill their obligations under compliance schemes. Others value the potential reputational gains of voluntary credits. Yet others seek to cut costs or hedge risk.

Ford has emphasized the long-term reputational gains that can be achieved through simple and cost effective energy efficiency strategies. It does not offset, as its priority is to achieve energy reduction directly by investing in energy-efficient equipment in its stores and warehouses.

Other companies, such as the alternative investment provider, Man Group, that are not covered by a mandatory emissions trading scheme choose to trade emissions voluntarily. The Group also invests in emission reduction projects. While these projects add incrementally to the return on their client's investment, Man Group anticipates that some of these may also qualify as tradeable Clean Development Mechanism projects in the future.

One of the forthcoming initiatives to cut carbon emissions is the UK Government's Carbon Reduction Scheme, which is currently in its initial phase. Ethical Corporation Institute has also researched what this upcoming regulation will mean for UK businesses, of which roughly 5000 will be affected.

Ethical Corporation Institute produces practical, robust market intelligence reports, issue and regional management briefings, and occasional free research papers on ethical business issues.