Press release from Climate Neutral, a non-profit organization creating the new trusted consumer standard for corporate climate action. Climate Action is ATRA’s 2020 theme. Trail running footwear manufacturer Icebug is one of Climate Neutral’s committed brands.
For Earth Day, dozens of brands unite under a new standard for climate action.
Climate Neutral, an independent non-profit organization engaging consumers and brands in the transition to a low-carbon world, is proud to announce the inaugural class of more than 70 Climate Neutral Certified companies. In return for meeting the Climate Neutral Certified standard, certified companies may begin displaying the Climate Neutral Certified label on packaging, hang tags, websites and other brand collateral. The Climate Neutral Certified label signals to consumers that a company has measured and offset its carbon footprint, and is taking concrete actions to combat climate change.
All Climate Neutral Certified companies must complete a three-step process in order to be granted Certified status for 2020:
- Verifiably measure their greenhouse gas footprint from making and delivering their products in 2019.
- Purchase carbon credits to offset their entire footprint.
- Implement strategies to reduce future emissions.
Certification lasts for a year before companies must repeat the process.
All companies that achieve the certification are profiled publicly on the Climate Neutral website. Profiles feature each company’s footprint and details about their certification so that consumers can easily understand the meaning of the label.
Moreover, because companies must buy carbon credits to offset their footprint, the certification imposes a fee for every ton of carbon emissions. This approach funnels significant investment into carbon reduction and sequestration projects around the globe, and accomplishes what is known as “carbon pricing” — a tool that economists believe is necessary to address the climate crisis.
Climate Neutral Certified fills a large gap in the landscape of certifications and labels, since no widely recognized label directly addresses a brand’s commitment to halting climate change. By earning the Climate Neutral certification, these 71 brands are leading by example and accepting full accountability for their carbon footprint.
“Climate Neutral Certified companies show the world that immediate action on climate change is necessary and possible,” says Austin Whitman, CEO of Climate Neutral. “Even under challenging business conditions, our first group of brands has stayed committed to solving the climate crisis by directing precious resources toward reducing and offsetting their emissions. We’re proud to be creating a standard for companies’ claims to carbon responsibility, and thrilled at what this group of forward-thinking, responsible brands has achieved.”
ABOUT CLIMATE NEUTRAL
Climate Neutral is a non-profit organization creating the new trusted consumer standard for corporate climate action. The Climate Neutral Certified label empowers consumers to consciously support companies that measure their entire carbon footprint, offset it in its entirety, and implement strategies to reduce it moving forward. Climate Neutral’s standardized process makes it easier for companies to estimate their greenhouse gas footprint, identify credible carbon offsets, and prioritize measures to reduce their emissions. To see the full list of certified companies, and their impact, visit climateneutral.org/certified-brands. To learn more about Climate Neutral, visit climateneutral.org.
