Isramart : MAKING CENTS OF THE “CARBON FOOTPRINT:”

Isramart news:
In the face of growing awareness of environmental impact, the growing buying preference for carbon-conscious business practices, and impending government restrictions on carbon emissions, with the Senate poised to pass legislation in early 2010, individuals, manufacturers, and businesses nationwide want solutions that help them reduce their carbon emissions and sort out the complexities of this new terrain.

Acting as a guide for businesses and organizations new or familiar to practices related to carbon reduction strategies, navigating the carbon market, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Portland-based Carbon Concierge (www.carbonconcierge.com) has developed a business model that successfully serves a broad market through its national affiliate program. By using a partner based model Carbon Concierge is able to effectively help their clients navigate the complexities that businesses encounter through the current carbon emission reduction maze, a model that has garnered the prestigious Audubon/Toyota Together Green Fellowship.

“Reductions in carbon emissions for businesses is going to be required in the near future and the current carbon market is quite complex,” says Mickey Lee, Strategic Director at Carbon Concierge, MBA in Sustainable Development. “We created Carbon Concierge to assist companies in the transition to carbon neutral practices by utilizing our expertise in the carbon market, our research components that are tightly matched with relevant and timely issues in the voluntary carbon market, and industry partnerships to help tailor solutions that fit our clients’ specific needs.”

It is here that Carbon Concierge is able to act as exactly that – a concierge; an expert resource in navigating an unfamiliar locale and introducing appropriate programs and partners.
Carbon Concierge provides effective solution strategies, including:

• Carbon Footprint Analysis and Measurement Tools
• Carbon Reduction Strategies
• Access to Extensive Sound Business Network
• Strategies and Branding for Socially Responsible Marketing
• Supply Chain Management
• Guidance for Purchasing Carbon Offsets
• Return on Sustainability (ROS)

More than a responsible imperative in the growing awareness of ‘Corporate Social Responsibility, auditing and mitigating a company’s carbon impact is about increasing the efficiency of the entire operation from the ground up. Not only does efficiency in manufacturing allow for greater profit, but companies quick to adapt to the carbon conscious climate of the 21st century will find themselves less impeded by government restrictions. Successful business strategies that incorporate environmental impact assessments are increasingly finding support from government and consumers.

When attempting to take all emissions into account, most companies are likely to omit certain polluting practices because of their lack of familiarity with this kind of assessment. Created as a resource for modern business, Carbon Concierge is able to use expert knowledge of the sustainable marketplace to accurately assess annual carbon output and engage businesses in long-term financially viable solutions.

Committed to engaging business in profitable and ethical solutions, Carbon Concierge along with one of its affiliate partners, worked with The North Face to help them understand, navigate, and implement sustainability strategies into its decision making processes with a clear definition of ROS
Through their proven approach and strong client relations, they identified the businesses needs and goals and helped the North Face develop effective, impactful corporate sustainability metrics. The outcome was that the company was able to sort through the myriad of sustainability initiatives that were on the table and focus on the ones that created the greatest brand value, profitability and sustainability performance.

Braving the confusion of the carbon offset market, Carbon Concierge uses their extensive collective experience and broad-reaching network of resources to determine the optimal sustainability strategy for the future of a company. Like The North Face, they have helped 91 businesses to become carbon balanced in the last 36 months. Efficiency and sustainability are practices that successful companies can no longer afford to ignore in their business strategies, as exhibited in the Abdereen Group’s 2009 Study, “Making the Business Case for Sustainability.” The study illustrated that carbon and cost emerged as the top two metrics that mattered most for companies looking to measure the success of their sustainability initiatives.

About Carbon Concierge
A former project of the Social Venture Network and the Bainbridge Graduate Institute, Carbon Concierge was started in 2007 to provide solutions to the intricate and confusion surrounding the Voluntary Carbon Market. Carbon Concierge is now privately held and has grown to become a leading consultant for companies working to reduce their carbon emissions and realize the potentials for Return on Sustainability.

About Christie Communications
Christie Communications is a full-service branding, public relations, marketing, and advertising agency dedicated to helping ethical businesses, entrepreneurs, and socially-conscious organizations broaden their impact through effective communication services.