HSBC Becomes Carbon Trust's 100th Achiever in Cutting Carbon Emissions

One year from its launch, the Carbon Trust Standard Company has certified financial services group HSBC as its 100th achiever. Over the last 12 months, the 100 Carbon Trust Standard recipients have cut their emissions by over 600,000 tonnes of carbon and saved over £50 million.

The Carbon Trust Standard is a mark of excellence awarded to organisations for measuring, managing and reducing carbon emissions over time. As the 100th company to achieve the certification, HSBC follows in the footsteps of big brands such as Asda, Tesco, O2, Eurotunnel and Eversheds.

HSBC’s Chief Technology and Services Officer, Sean O’Sullivan, explained “HSBC has long been committed to cutting carbon emissions. We became the first major bank to go carbon neutral in 2005. We’re now delighted to have cut our carbon by another 10% and achieved the Carbon Trust Standard, thanks to a lot of hard work from people at all levels of our company. Reducing carbon emissions is part of our approach to corporate sustainability but also produces considerable savings that feed through to our bottom line.”

Harry Morrison, general manager of the Carbon Trust Standard Company comments: “In just one year, we’re proud to have certified 100 UK businesses but we expect this number to double over the next year as more businesses prepare for the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) in 2010. By achieving the Standard, organisations will not only be in good stead for the CRC’s first league table but will also be in a much stronger position to develop a long term strategy to reduce their environmental impact year on year.”

The total footprint certified by the Carbon Trust Standard accounts 3% of the total Carbon footprint of UK businesses and transport. Achievement of the Carbon Trust Standard not only demonstrates real carbon reduction but will also reduce the cost of these companies’ participation in the CRC when it comes into force in April 2010.

In order to help businesses prepare for the CRC, the Carbon Trust Standard Company is doubling its team of assessors to support businesses in capturing the information they need to demonstrate real carbon reduction.