London, 4th April, 2012: Hyundai Engineering
and Construction, Korean Western Power, Samsung Electronics and
S-Oil are the first companies to be certified to the Carbon Trust
Standard in South Korea, as the international expansion of the
Carbon Trust Standard gathers momentum.
The companies have been certified through an innovative and
exclusive Alliance Partner agreement between the Carbon Trust and
the Korea
Productivity Center (KPC). It is the only organisation
that can now audit and certify businesses in South Korea to the
Carbon Trust Standard.
Based on a rigorous independent assessment, the Carbon Trust
Standard certifies that organisations have measured, managed and
reduced carbon emissions across their operations, and are committed
to reducing emissions further year-on-year. Over
600organisations have achieved the Carbon Trust Standard since its
launch in 2008, and current holders have achieved over 3.6Mt CO2e
of certified reductions and £165m in cost savings.
The Carbon Trust has now certified organisations to the Carbon
Trust Standard in five countries in addition to the UK - Belgium,
China, Ireland, Italy and South Korea. The Carbon Trust
Standard has the potential to make a very significant impact on
carbon emissions in in Korea, as businesses recognise the financial
and reputational benefits of certification, and consumers require
organisations to prove their environmental credentials.
According to a new international study
from the Carbon Trust, nearly three quarters (73%) of young people
in South Korea would be more loyal to a brand if they could see it
was reducing its carbon footprint. Seventy-six per cent of
those questioned said that companies should be obliged to provide
proof of their policy to reduce the carbon footprint of the
products they make. 69% would like to see companies' carbon
impact quantified by an independent organisation.
Young people in Korea also felt that consumer electronics
organisations had the largest responsibility to reduce carbon
emissions, followed by providers of consumer healthcare
products. When asked who or what influenced them most
regarding their attitudes to the environment, nearly a third (33%)
cited the media, followed by advertising (23%).
Tom Delay, Chief Executive, the Carbon Trust, says:
"As the launch of the Carbon Trust Standard in Korea
demonstrates, pioneering organisations around the world are
starting to recognise the need to verify that they are acting on
carbon. Our research shows nearly three quarters of young
people in South Korea would be more loyal to a brand if they could
see it was reducing its carbon footprint. Through our
partnership with KPC, organisations such as Hyundai, Korean Western
Power, Samsung and S-Oil are starting to reap the financial and
reputational benefits of carbon reduction and are helping to shape
the low carbon future of South Korea."
Dongsoo Kim, Director of the Sustainability Management Center at
KPC, says:
"We are seeing a huge demand for the Carbon Trust Standard in
South Korea, where organisations are seeking trusted, independent,
and internationally recognised certification, as consumers at home
and abroad demand action on carbon."
Sang Beom Park, Head of CS Environment Center, Samsung
Electronics, says:
"In 2009, Samsung Electronics set challenging greenhouse gas
reduction targets throughout our Green Management initiative,
'Planet First'. Since then, we are on track to reduce by 50% of
financial greenhouse gas emissions intensity from manufacturing
facilities by 2013. We are very pleased to have achieved the Carbon
Trust Standard Certification thanks to such efforts. Samsung will
accelerate the carbon reduction for the protection of the
environment."
Dong Sop Kim, Managing Director of Power Generation Department,
Korea Western Power says:
"We, Korea Western Power, have been committed to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions through the expansion of renewable energy,
such as construction of the world's largest tidal power plant, the
nation's first IGCC, and co-firing of biomass fuels in the
coal-fired power plant. Also we have been committed to establishing
low-carbon management, such as Korea's first certified green
management system. I think this Carbon Trust Standard certification
is recognition for our efforts, and will be turning point to go one
step further towards being a green energy company. "
Jae Hee Lee, Head of HSE Innovation Group, Hyundai Engineering
and Construction, says:
"We have a set of greenhouse gas emissions targets, and we
implement specific and systematic action plans, in all our business
activities including construction sites, to mitigate climate
change, recognising that carbon management is the main solution to
our sustainable development."
Min Soo Kang, Head of Corporate Planning Division, S-Oil,
says:
"S-OIL has established a strategic carbon management system
under which it monitors company-wide carbon emissions all
year-round through IT systems, forecasts of future emission, and
minimizing the cost burden by optimizing the investment portfolio
for carbon reduction. S-OIL joins hands, and even takes initiatives
in the globe's and Korean government's efforts to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions in response to climate change while pursuing
sustainable growth of the Company."
-ENDS-
Notes to editors
The Carbon Trust Standard
The Carbon Trust Standard offers a
full service carbon certification service, including:
certification, benchmarking, analysis, training and
verification.
Over 600 organisations have achieved the Carbon Trust Standard
since it was launched in June 2008.
Collectively, the current holders of the Carbon Trust Standard
have cut their emissions by 3.6 million tonnes of CO2e, whilst also
cutting their gas, electricity and fuel bills by over
£165M.
To date, the total carbon footprint certified by the Carbon
Trust Standard is over 120 million tonnes of CO2e.
All businesses and organisations internationally are eligible to
apply for the Carbon Trust Standard, including FTSEs, middle
capitalisation companies, small to medium sized enterprises, and
public sector organisations. Organisations that are awarded
theCarbon TrustStandard hold it for a two year period and to
maintain the certification they must reapply and demonstrate that
they have continued to make year-on-year reductions in their carbon
emissions.
Organisations wanting information about getting the Carbon Trust
Standard can call: +44 207 8324655 or visit www.carbontrust.com.
For further information or interviews on the Carbon Trust
Standard, please contact Amy Watt/Adele McIntosh on +44 (0)20 7592
1200 or carbontrust@brands2life.com
About the Carbon Trust
We are independent experts with a mission to accelerate the move
to a low carbon economy.
We advise businesses, governments and the public sector on their
opportunities in a sustainable, low carbon world. We measure and
certify the environmental footprint of organisations, supply chains
and products. We help develop and deploy low carbon
technologies and solutions, from energy efficiency to renewable
power.