THE PROGRAMME
Toitū Envirocare believes that together we can build momentum, inspire change and take credible action toward a sustainable world. Based on science and backed by proof, our Toitū carbonreduce, Toitū carbonzero and Toitū enviromark certifications give organisations the tools to reduce their carbon emissions and environmental impact. Initially developed for New Zealand business needs, our programmes now serve more than 500 clients worldwide from all sectors of the economy. Wholly owned by Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, a New Zealand Crown Research Institute, Toitū Envirocare’s origins are in science, but our future is in the sustainability of our economy, our people, and our land.
Toitū Envirocare’s two carbon certification programmes. Toitū carbonreduce and Toitū carbonzero are designed to support any organisation, service or product. The programmes are accredited by the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) and were the first carbon programmes to be accredited under ISO 14065. Accreditation is third-party endorsement of the programmes, meaning the marks are recognised in over 60 countries through the International Accreditation Forum (IAF). The programme standard, which requires additional action over and above the ISO 14064-1 and PAS 2050 standards, is recognised by the CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project) as a verification standard. Toitū Envirocare is also accredited by the CDP for its verification and science-based targets services. Additionally, Toitū Envirocare is a member of the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) and follows the International Carbon Reduction Offset Alliance (ICROA) Code of Best Practice for offsetting. In the UK, Toitū carbonreduce is also licensed by the UK Environment Agency and recognised by the UK Energy Savings and Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) as a route to compliance and by the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) scheme as a suitable reporting standard.
Toitū carbonreduce organisation certification is proof an organisation is positively contributing to the sustainability of our future through measuring and managing their carbon footprint. To achieve Toitū carbonreduce certification, an organisation must measure all operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions required under the international standard for quantifying and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and removals, ISO 14064-1, including direct and indirect emissions sources. The emissions are measured annually, and the inventory is independently verified to ensure it is accurate and complete. The organisation must develop plans to continually manage and reduce their emissions, including consideration and management of any environmental impacts that might occur if they focused only on reducing carbon emissions. The organisation must reduce emissions, in accordance with agreed emissions reduction targets, on a six-year cycle.
Toitū carbonzero organisation certification, like Toitū carbonreduce, is proof an organisation is positively contributing to the sustainability of our future through measuring and reducing their carbon footprint. They then take the next step to offset their carbon emissions. To achieve Toitū carbonzero certification, an organisation follows all the steps of Toitū carbonreduce, including annually measuring all operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions required under the international standard for carbon footprints, ISO 14064-1, before the inventory is independently verified to ensure it is accurate and complete. Once they have measured their footprint, the organisation must develop plans to continually manage and reduce their emissions. Each year, unavoidable emissions are offset through the purchase of quality certified carbon credits to achieve net zero emissions. The organisation must reduce emissions on a six-year cycle.
To gain Toitū carbonreduce or Toitū carbonzero product certification, the provider prepares a product carbon footprint measurement in conformance with PAS 2050, and a carbon reduction plan. Toitū carbonzero product certification also requires that the provider offsets the remaining emissions for all the product sold. Independent verification is two-yearly. Toitū carbonreduce and carbonzero certified products are eligible for points by the New Zealand Green Building Council’s Green Star programme under the materials category. Products/services certified by Toitū Envirocare have included food and beverages (yoghurt, beer, wine and bottled water), building materials, skincare products, electricity, paper, mattresses, tyres and taxi/courier/freight and photocopying/printing services.
Public disclosure on the Toitū Envirocare website, through a summary of the verified footprint, reduction commitments and actions, and details of the offsets used, is a requirement of the programme.
Visit the carbon certification programmes and Member Directory on Toitū Envirocare’s website.
THE ADVANTAGES OF CARBON MANAGEMENT AND INDEPENDENT CERTIFICATION
New Zealand is a signatory to the Paris Agreement and is committed to both domestic and international climate change progress. Recently, the government passed into law the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Bill which commits New Zealand to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. An independent Climate Change Commission has been established which provides the Government with independent advice on achieving carbon reductions through five-year budgets across all sectors of the economy.
There is a strong impetus for New Zealand organisations to take voluntary action to reduce their emissions. Since 2006, the Toitū carbonreduce and Toitū carbonzero certification programmes enable organisations to achieve this and make credible claims to stakeholders and the marketplace. On average, Toitū carbonreduce and Toitū carbonzero certified organisations reduce their emissions by 20-30% with some achieving up to 80% reduction over a three to five-year period.
In 2018, a consortium of leading New Zealand businesses formed the Climate Leaders Coalition to encourage the New Zealand business community to measure, report and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. After just a year, the Coalition now comprises 119 organisations representing over 60% of New Zealand’s gross emissions and one third of New Zealand’s private sector GDP, employing more than 170,000 people. Updated commitments require the members to have an independently verified greenhouse gas footprint, adopt reduction targets grounded in science, assess and publicly disclose climate change risks and proactively support their people and suppliers to reduce their emissions.
As Toitū Envirocare’s programmes are internationally accredited and the requirements meet and exceed international standards and best practice, organisations around the world benefit from credibility and integrity of our certifications.