B&Q and Morrisons are first retailers to be awarded Carbon Trust Standard

B&Q and Morrison’s are the two retailers among the first 12 companies to be awarded the new Carbon Trust Standard for tackling climate change.

The Standard, which launches today, is awarded to organisations that can prove they have made genuine reductions in carbon emissions and are committed to making further reductions.

The Carbon Trust said it is launching the accreditation scheme to put an end to “greenwashing”, in response to the growing consumer mistrust of green claims made by companies.

Carbon Trust chief executive Tom Delay said: “Not only do consumers mistrust business’ climate change claims, but that business thinks existing carbon award schemes are confusing and lack credibility .”

B&Q has reduced it’s carbon emissions over the last three years by 4.7 per cent. The DIY specialist is also in the process of rolling out stores with a “targeted 50 per cent reduction in carbon emissions”.

B&Q social responsibility manager Rachel Bradley said: “In the current climate, it’s essential that we remain competitive, and the Carbon Trust Standard is another way we can stay ahead of the game. Cutting carbon is a priority for us as a business, so it’s great that there is now a credible and robust certification which enables us to showcase our reduction efforts.”

Supermarket chain Morrison’s has achieved a cumulative reduction of 374,190 tonnes of carbon since 2005 and has invested£18million in carbon reduction technology since 2006.

Among the other companies awarded the Carbon Trust Standard are Trinity Mirror, Thames Water and the London Fire Brigade.

For further details on the Carbon Trust Standard go to www.carbontruststandard.co.uk