DuPont gets the BSI seal of approval for its greenhouse gas emissions

Press release - August 28, 2002

The chemical firm DuPont (U.K.) Limited has received a verification of its greenhouse gas emissions baseline from BSI, the global leader in standards, quality assurance and management system registration.

In the mid 1990s DuPont was responsible for around 3% of the total UK emissions of greenhouse gases. It has set the second largest emissions reduction target - of 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) a year - on the list of 34 so-called 'direct participants' in the UK Government's Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS).

BSI has verified that DuPont's baseline emissions total - which is the average figure for the years 1998, 1999, 2000 - is the equivalent of 2.6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions each year. The government incentive will be made over the next five years, subject to annual verification.

Nick Moy, managing director of BSI Management Systems, said: "Congratulations to DuPont for achieving this important verification. Greenhouse gas issues are rising up the environmental policy agenda and gaining attention in corporate boardrooms. We are seeing an increasing number of organisations which want to communicate with their customers, shareholders and employees on progress in minimising emission levels."

On receiving the verification certificate, Tony Young of DuPont UK said: "In the early 1990s DuPont began taking action to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions - which are mainly in the form of nitrous oxides. We have accomplished major reductions throughout our worldwide operations and set ambitious goals for the current decade. This BSI verification for our UK operations is important in helping us demonstrate the reduced emissions we have achieved and the improving environmental impact from our company's activities."

Earlier this year BSI conducted a survey which shows that firms are seeking clarity about how to demonstrate reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases. The firms polled by BSI - in industries like manufacturing, chemicals, mining, construction, water and power supply - say they need more guidance on these issues. Although some companies are already attributing financial value to carbon and managing it as they would any other asset, many others are finding these new carbon markets complex and challenging.

The BSI research shows that there is still considerable confusion amongst potential buyers of a verification service as to how that service should be delivered, who should deliver it and how it should be reported.