Testimonials | Carbon Offsetting

"The reason we chose co2balance.com after initially consulting with all major UK companies such as Climate Care and Carbon Neutral Company, is that they were the only ones not to equate offset to money, and planting 'x' amount of trees. the first thing co2balance.com said was that we needed to minimise before offsetting, via the reduction of our impacts. Then at the very last to offset with them. This showed to me they cared and had passion for their work, much like I do for mine."

Matt Hocking
Director Leap Media and Go Jute

Innovia Films has worked with co2balance since the beginning of 2008.

co2balance were appointed as our carbon services company because they met and exceeded our prescribed objectives and due to the type of carbon-reduction schemes they were able to offer. We are very pleased to work with them and to seek their advice as to the most appropriate carbon-reduction schemes for Innovia Films.

To offset the carbon emissions of our range of coated NatureFlex™ films, we decided to plant 3,000 trees at Sand Martin Wood, Faugh, Cumbria.

This followed a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) on our NatureFlex™ coated films range during 2007, which was conducted to allow the company to quantify the environmental impact of the product on a ‘cradle to gate’ basis. From this, Innovia Films was able to determine the carbon footprint of coated NatureFlex™ biodegradable and compostable packaging films in 2008.

The planting of this new forest with a mix of British broad leafed trees within 30 km of our Wigton site was selected because NatureFlex™ is manufactured in Cumbria. The forest is directly owned and managed by co2balance, which will ensure that it is properly maintained into the future.

In addition, Innovia Films will contribute to a scheme that distributes ‘solar ovens’ to poor communities in Africa. This helps to reduce deforestation, reduces CO₂ emissions from open stove burning, reduces energy costs and provides health and safety benefits to the users.

Through the implementation of these carbon-reduction schemes and by actively working with co2balance, Innovia Films has achieved CarbonZero status on its full range of NatureFlex™ coated biodegradable and compostable packaging films.

The CarbonZero accreditation has been used to good effect in our recent PR activity carried out with assistance from the co2balance team. This work has resulted in our company profile being raised and has added value for our customers.

We would not hesitate in recommending the services and staff of co2balance.

Yours faithfully,

Andy Sweetman

MARKET DEVELOPMENT MANAGER – SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES

NatureFlex™ is a registered trademark of Innovia Films Group.

Innovia Films Ltd, is a major producer of Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP) and cellulose (Cellophane™) films with production sites in the UK (based at Wigton in Cumbria), USA, Belgium and Australia.

It holds a leading global position in the markets for labels and security films, coated packaging, overwrap and biodegradable and compostable films under the brand-name NatureFlex™, employing some 1,400 people worldwide (900 staff are based at HQ in Wigton, Cumbria, UK).