SEOUL, South Korea, 16th August, 2012: Korea Productivity Centre (KPC), a Carbon Trust Alliance Partner, is proud to present Asia's first ever Carbon Footprint Gallery in Seoul. This exhibition, open to both industry and the public from August 16th - August 19th, showcases the carbon reduction efforts of companies through thought-provoking art displays at the Insa Art Centre. This is the second in the Carbon Footprint Gallery series, the aim of which is to highlight the common carbon reduction efforts being made by businesses internationally. The first took place in London in April 2012.
With the support of the Carbon Trust, KPC organized leading companies to display creative exhibits about carbon footprinting and carbon reduction. The Carbon Footprint Gallery in Seoul, spotlights companies that have developed facilities, products and services while simultaneously reducing their carbon footprints. By successfully measuring and managing their carbon footprints, these companies show how they were able to reduce their energy costs and operate more sustainably.
Four participating Korean companies (Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Korea Western Power, S-Oil and Samsung Electronics) are the first in Korea to obtain the Carbon Trust Standard, a proprietary standard based on ISO 14064 and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol that places them among over 650 organisations worldwide that have met its stringent criteria. These four companies were awarded the Carbon Trust Standard at a ceremony in Seoul in April 2012. Internationally recognised companies also participating in the exhibition include Asia Cement, Go-Ahead Group, Hankook Tires, LG Health & Household, Manchester United FC, Nongshim, Whitbread and Woongjin Coway. The Gallery is a representation of the diverse industrial sectors continuously working toward the reduction of their carbon footprints and environmental impact.
KPC's partnership with the Carbon Trust gives us the unique opportunity to present solutions for companies who are serious about lowering their GHG emissions globally. We have seen companies that already possess the certification from the Carbon Trust confidently disclose their credentials while improving their operational and environmental practices. One main focus KPC we has is to assist companies and their suppliers to stay ahead of government expectations of reducing GHG emissions and minimising their environmental impact. One of expectations for the Footprint Gallery is to reinforce the practice of sustainability and carbon reduction decision making to the public.
- Dong Soo Kim, Director of the Sustainability Management Centre, KPC
It is really inspiring to see our partner, the Korea Productivity Centre, take the Carbon Trust's Footprint Gallery concept from London to Seoul. We are really excited to support this imaginative three day festival which will inspire consumers and businesses to act, and will shine a light on companies which are taking positive action to limit their environmental impact. The sheer breadth of companies taking part in the 'Footprint Gallery' reflects the broad range of industries in Korea and beyond which are now taking carbon reduction seriously, and using carbon footprinting as an important first step on the journey to managing their environmental impact. We are especially pleased to see the first four companies in Korea to achieve the Carbon Trust Standard being showcased in the exhibition.
- Darran Messem, Managing Director of Certification at the Carbon Trust
Among the distinguished guests were Korea's Vice Minister of Knowledge Economy, His Excellency Sang-Jick Yoon, who gave a congratulatory address to the participants, for raising environmental awareness nationwide. The President of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Kyoung Hoan Na, and Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Seoul, Andrew Dalgleish, also attended the opening ceremony.
The broad range of exhibits on display included a scale replica model of a high-speed train, a cement pig, a miniature bed, and smart phone technology. The audience was invited to take a fresh look at the relationship between the goods and services they use in their daily lives and the associated carbon emissions. Encouraging consumers and organisations to make more environmentally friendly decisions and take carbon reduction seriously has increasingly become an important topic of discussion. An international study among young people conducted earlier this year by the Carbon Trust, showed that 73% of consumers in Korea would be more loyal to an organisation that is working toward carbon reduction, and on average one-third of consumers would purchase higher priced goods from an organisation if it had a smaller carbon footprint. With 5% annual growth in GDP and as the fifth largest net importer of oil in the world, South Korea's dependency on oil has been reduced by new advances in technology, alternative energy, and natural gas.
Recently, the South Korean government introduced plans so that large organisations will either have to reduce their Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions or pay penalties. This exhibition shows how companies in South Korea and around the world are stepping up their efforts through education and technology to lower carbon emissions.
The gallery opened on 16th August, with a special performance from popular Korean band Kingston Rudieska at the venue. The Gallery was opened at 4.30 pm on 16th August 2012 and is to close at 7:00pm on the 19th August 2012.
See more on the 2013 Carbon Footprint Gallery in Seoul, Korea
About Korea Productivity Centre (KPC)
Since its foundation in 1957 KPC has played a pivotal role in increasing the productivity of Korean industry to promote the rapid growth of the national economy. KPC currently provides a variety of services to support globalization efforts including consulting, guidance, education, training, research, public services. KPC creates new management innovation movements to help the businesses meet the challenges of the 21st century.
About Carbon Trust Certification
Carbon Trust Certification offers a full range of services to allow organizations to certify and verify their product, service and organisational carbon footprints. Carbon Trust Certification provides independent verification of the carbon footprints of goods and services to PAS 2050, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting, the Carbon Trust's Footprint ExpertTM Guide and the Carbon Trust Code of Good Practice for Product Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Reduction Claims.
More information can be found at: www.carbontrust.com
About the Carbon Trust
The Carbon Trust is an independent company with a mission to accelerate the move to a low carbon economy. The Carbon Trust:
- advises businesses, government and the public sector on opportunities in a sustainable, low carbon world.
- measures and certifies the environmental footprint of organisations, products and services.
- helps develop and deploy low carbon technologies and solutions, from energy efficiency to renewable power.
About the Research
The 'Generation Y' research was conducted online by TNS using Lightspeed Research and its preferred partner panels between 24th February and 6th March 2012. Males and females aged 18-25 were interviewed across six different countries -US (501), UK (501), South Korea (500), Brazil (500), China (500) and South Africa (300). Due to the nature of online research, the data is indicative of the attitudes and behaviour of young people in these countries.
Additional statistics from the research:
- 83% of youth in China would be more loyal to a brand if they could see it is reducing its carbon footprint, compared to 73% in Korea, 55% in the UK and 57% in the USA.
- 81% of young adults in Brazil felt companies should be obliged to provide proof of their policy to reduce their carbon footprint, higher than any other nation.
- 68% of those surveyed worldwide want to see companies' carbon impact quantified by an independent organization.
- When asked which products and categories can do the most to reduce their carbon footprint 68% of young consumers cited consumer electronics companies in the top three, followed by consumer healthcare brands (50%), clothes manufacturers and retailers (50%), and food manufacturers and retailers (48%).
