Press Release: ClearCarbon and Industry Sustainability LeadersRoad Test New WRI/WBWBCSD Standards

ARLINGTON, Va. – Feb 23, 2010 – Over sixty corporations have begun measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from their products and supply chains, as announced by the World Resources Institute (WRI) on January 20, 2010 (www.wri.org/press/2010/01/sixty-corporations-begin-measuring-emissions-products-and-supply-chains).

ClearCarbon (www.clearcarboninc.com) was selected by one of the largest consumer products companies in the U.S., and a leading services provider, to road test the Scope 3 (Corporate Value Chain) and Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standards, which are in draft form. These corporations are voluntarily testing the draft standards that are part of the larger Greenhouse Gas Protocol Initiative (GHG Protocol) (www.ghgprotocol.org) platform. WRI and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) are developing the new accounting standards (www.wbcsd.org) to provide structure and guidance for calculating scope 3 and product greenhouse gas emissions, an area that was previously lacking internationally accepted guidance and consistent methodologies.

While a typical corporate carbon footprint primarily focuses on greenhouse gases from scope 1 and scope 2 emissions or “direct” and “indirect” emissions, respectively, the scope 3 guidance focuses on including “other indirect” sources of emissions as part of its corporate footprint assessment. The expanded boundaries of this carbon footprint will not only allow companies to understand the direct impact of their own facilities and offices, but also the carbon, energy, and cost impacts throughout its corporate value chain.

ClearCarbon is assessing the scope 3 emissions for one client from sources including: raw materials, manufacturing, business travel, employee commuting, waste emissions, transportation of products, consumer use, and end-of-life emissions.

ClearCarbon is also helping a client participate in the Product Life Cycle Standard road testing process. As part of the road test, ClearCarbon will help the client assess the emissions contribution of one of its products from raw materials acquisition through end-of-life disposal. This study will allow the company to determine the total climate impact of its selected product through the measurement and analysis of emissions in each phase of the product life cycle.

ClearCarbon Carbon Project Manager, Renee Morin, is part of the WRI/WBCSD Methodology Technical Working Group that is designing and authoring WRI’s new supply chain–focused GHG Product Standard. She said of the new standard: “companies acknowledge that there are numerous benefits to understanding the fuller value chain emissions of their operations. This allows them to increase efficiencies and reduce risks while providing more information to the management team for decision-making. ClearCarbon is thrilled to work with these two leadings companies to test these standards and provide valuable feedback to WRI/WBCSD as they continue to develop these guidelines.”

More About ClearCarbon
ClearCarbon is a full-service consulting firm dedicated to creating competitive advantage by specializing in carbon measurement, management, and monetization. Recognized as a sustainability industry leader because of a record of saving – and making – customers’ money, ClearCarbon’s solutions help clients of all sizes understand their climate impacts. The company helps its clients develop strategies to reduce their carbon footprint, enabling long term prosperity and growth in a carbon-constrained world. ClearCarbon is proud to have measured, managed, and/or monetized the carbon footprints for more than 20,000 locations in 128 countries.

ClearCarbon has measured, managed, and/or monetized the Carbon Footprints for more than 80 clients, including 30 members of the Fortune 1000, in more than 20,000 locations in 128 countries.

For more information:
Contact: info@clearcarboninc.com or call 1-571-527-4180