Klimatkompensering - En bra strategi för miljömedvetna företag eller ett enkelt sätt att köpa sig ett rent samvete?

Abstract

Offsetting carbon emissions – A good strategy for environmentally friendly companies, or a form of greenwash? In recent years, a new trend in the environmental work within companies has emerged. Instead of only being environmentally-friendly, companies and organizations have started to offset their carbon emissions. Companies that do this, claim that they have already lowered their carbon emissions to a great extent. To lower carbon emissions even more they participate in some kind of environmental project that lower carbon emissions worldwide. The underlying motive of doing this is based on the culture of the company which is often characterized by a feeling of responsibility towards the climate. Other motives are higher demands from company’s customers, and tougher rules and regulations. Companies do not offset their carbon emissions just to look better, i.e. greenwash. Companies offset for marketing reasons and to differentiate the company and its products. The cost of offsetting is relatively small compared to companies’ profits and turnover. When a company has decided to offset its carbon emissions it should consider taking the cost up front, before further reduction of its own carbon emissions. By doing this, the company will get a better picture of how large its carbon emissions, are and from where they originate. The cost of offsetting should also be allocated where the carbon emissions originate from. This will create an economic incentive for further reducing carbon emissions, and make implementation of the company’s climate strategy, easier.