Carbon in all we consume - Carbon Trust launches new UK carbon footprint

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06 December 2006
The Carbon Trust today launched a new way of presenting the UK’s total carbon footprint based upon an analysis of the products and services that consumers use in their daily lives. The footprint was launched through a national newspaper advertising campaign and breaks down the UK’s 648 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions into eleven high level consumer needs, ranging from clothing and footwear to commuting and food.


The new footprint provides a different perspective for business and consumers and takes into account the full life cycle of products and services from production through to use and disposal. It will help businesses catalyse innovative supply chain strategies to cut costs and lower the emissions required to create low carbon products and services to meet consumer needs.

Turning the traditional view of carbon emissions on its head, the new UK carbon footprint takes carbon emissions at source – e.g. electricity production and primary manufacturing – and reallocates them to the point of consumption – e.g. ready-meals, clothing and recreation. It shows that UK consumers use products and services with a combined carbon footprint of 648 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. The three consumer needs with the highest carbon emissions are recreation and leisure, space heating in the home and food and catering. Together, they are responsible for almost half of the total UK carbon emissions.

The new footprint has been launched following research earlier this year by the Carbon Trust showing that two thirds of consumers are more likely to buy products and services with a low carbon footprint. The Carbon Trust is working with Walkers, Trinity Mirror, Boots and Marks & Spencer to undertake a “carbon audit” of their whole supply chains with the overall objective of paving the way for low carbon products.

Tom Delay, Chief Executive of the Carbon Trust, commented:

“Carbon is everywhere and is embedded in all we consume. We want to help business drive carbon out of supply chains and, in turn, to fast track the delivery of low carbon products.

Our research tells us that consumer demand for low carbon products is stirring. In a world where the consumer is king and carbon is the new currency, companies that move first to develop low carbon products have much to gain.”



A copy of the advertisement is available to view as a pdf
Understanding the UK’s carbon footprint is the first step in reducing it. (30KB, pdf)



 
 
Footnotes
 

Notes to editor

The survey was conducted amongst 1159 consumers from across the UK by GfK NOP in October 20-22 and 27-29th 2006. Figures were weighted in order to be nationally representative. Results from the survey are summarised below.

  • 74 per cent of people think climate change is a serious problem that we need to tackle now
  • 54 per cent believe issues surrounding the need to cut carbon emissions have become more important over the past 12 months
  • Environmental concerns influence about 50 per cent of buying decisions. Breakdown:
  • 54 per cent (Food & Drink)
  • 50 per cent (Electronic goods)
  • 32 per cent (Banking/Financial)
  • 56 per cent (Fast moving consumer goods)
  • 58 per cent (Cars)
  • 74 per cent people think businesses are not doing enough to cut their carbon emissions and tackle climate change
  • 64 per cent of people say that their carbon footprint is important
  • 66 per cent want to know the carbon footprint of the products they buy
  • 67 per cent are more likely to buy a product with a low carbon footprint
  • 64 per cent are more likely to use a business that claims to have a low carbon footprint

The Carbon Trust

  • The Carbon Trust works with UK business and the public sector to cut carbon emissions and develop commercial low carbon technologies. An independent company set up by Government to help the UK meet its climate change obligations, the Carbon Trust creates practical business-focused solutions to carbon emission reduction on energy efficiency, carbon management, and investment.
  • The Carbon Trust's annual funding is in excess of £100m in grants from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Scottish Executive, the Welsh Assembly Government and Invest NI.