History

Set up as a company limited by guarantee by the UK government in order to accelerate the UK’s move to a low carbon economy by helping business and the public sector cut their carbon emissions and help drive low carbon innovation.

Developed dedicated carbon management programmes for companies and public sector organisations – providing a framework to measure, manage and reduce emissions and establishing the terminology for carbon reduction.

Launched the world’s first carbon footprint label, allowing companies to provide third party assurance of carbon measurement, reduction and neutrality claims.

Find out more about product footprint certification

Established our flagship RD programme - the Offshore Wind Accelerator (OWA) – which now involves with nine leading offshore wind developers. In its first ten years it has delivered over 150 projects which have led to a significant reduction in the cost of offshore wind energy and is now being replicated across the globe.

Launched the Carbon Trust Standard for Carbon to provide a robust, objective and consistent methodology for assessing corporate carbon performance.

Find out more about the Carbon Trust Standard

Opened a representative office in China.

In partnership with Stanhope plc and Threadneedle Investments, we established the Low Carbon Workplace Trust to develop and manage energy efficient office buildings, and help occupiers minimise their carbon emissions.

Find out more about the Low Carbon Workplace

Advised the GHG Protocol, leveraging our expertise in corporate greenhouse gas measurement to help establish guidance for companies to measure Scope 3 emissions – a significant step forward in cradle to grave carbon measurement.

Established an African office in Pretoria as part of an ambitious programme with the South African NBI and UK aid to help businesses across South Africa become more energy efficient.

Launched the world’s first international standard for organisational waste reduction - the Carbon Trust Standard for Waste, and launched a Carbon Trust Standard for Water.

Invited to provide expert input as a member of the Technical Advisory Group for the Science Based Targets initiative.

Expanded our mission to Mexico, setting up an office in Mexico City to initially deliver three projects to help 150,000 businesses and the public sector cut costs and carbon.

Began work on a new Low Carbon Cities Malaysia programme, designed to accelerate the implementation of carbon reduction projects for local authorities across Malaysia.

Launched the world’s first certification to recognise supply chain emissions reduction.

Find out more about value and supply chain sustainability 

Launched the multimillion-pound Green Business Fund to help drive energy efficiency actions though a world leading programme of advice and support for SMEs.

Began work on the Department for International Development’s Transforming Energy Access programme to support the development and deployment of affordable, clean energy solutions in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Began our work with the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program (K-CEP) to help accelerate investment into efficient clean cooling.

Accredited the UK’s first green bond for Barclays, providing expert assurance of its low carbon credentials, as part of our growing activity in green finance.

Find out more about Green Finance

Worked with sector-leading companies to set challenging science-based targets – including Carlsberg, BT, LandSec and Mahindra Sanyo.

Continued to expand our global reach with the opening of a European office in Amsterdam and a South East Asia office in Singapore.