Carbon offsetting, put simply, is a way of compensating for 'damage' done. If releasing Carbon Dioxide (C02) damages the atmosphere, and if there are C02-releasing activities that you have to do, then, through a carbon offsetting scheme, you are doing something to repair the damage.
You can read more details about the ins and outs of offsetting in our 'Viable Offsetting' section.
In a nutshell, a good offsetting scheme such as the one we operate is a realistic option for businesses wanting to be carbon neutral because the blunt truth is that you will be unable to reduce your C02 emissions to zero and keep trading. Reducing C02 emissions is better than offsetting, but offsetting what you can't cut out makes sense.
You might want to offset both the C02 what you do creates (your office heating for example, or your business travel), or you might want to offset the C02 your products create.
So, for example, if you're a car showroom, your customers might well expect your showroom and garage to be as climate friendly as possible in terms of energy usage with your actual consumption offset; and they might well expect your range of cars to be as climate friendly as possible in their manufacture, with their unavoidable carbon footprint offset.
What's more, you have the option of investing into a carbon offsetting scheme on behalf of your customers, to offset against any negative impact on the climate their purchase of your products might entail. To take the car showroom example again, you could opt to pay to offset the first three years' typical mileage, so your customers can buy a new car knowing that their purchase is already carbon-neutral.
Of course, you might want to offset all aspects of your business - your operations, your products and your customers' use of your products. However you approach it, the 'carbon neutral' status of your business can be a strong selling point in its own right.
~~~~~~