Offsetting explained

From heating an office to running a fleet of vehicles, all of our everyday actions consume energy and produce
carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon dioxide is believed to be the most significant greenhouse gas contributing
to global warming. Offsetting is a way of compensating for these emissions with an equivalent carbon dioxide
saving, thus lessening the impact of our actions.

Whilst there are a number of regulations that require some companies to reduce and offset their emissions
(e.g. power companies), there are many businesses and individuals that choose to offset their emissions to help
mitigate against their own activities.

At PURE we believe that offsetting is a vital step to combating climate change. However, to gain maximum
benefit, all actions should be part of a carbon management plan which sets out a clear strategy for
implementing reduction measures and monitoring and advancing your progress.

Offset donations to PURE support Kyoto Protocol emissions reduction projects worldwide, which are audited and verified by the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism.

Emissions reduction projects issue carbon credits, which may be used by polluters within Kyoto emissions trading schemes for compliance purposes. Carbon credits purchased by PURE however, are cancelled by us and effectively put beyond use - thereby removing them from the international register, and hence limiting the amount of greenhouse gases that polluting companies can release into the atmosphere.

Carbon credits are cancelled by us within one year of your offset purchase.

This methodology meets both the UK Government’s Quality Assurance Scheme for Carbon Offsetting and offers a dual environmental benefit.

Organisations that are significant electricity users such as banks, hotel chains, supermarkets and large office-based companies will be required to measure and reduce their emissions as part of the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) beginning in 2010.  For more information about the CRC click here