Conserving Resources in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme Group verification programme for Emissions Trading Scheme generates even more savings for food and drink firms.
More than 200 companies from the food and drink industry have taken part in a co-ordinated verification against the UK's Emissions Trading Scheme. The programme, which was coordinated by environmental consultancy Enviros and carried out by certification firm SGS United Kingdom Ltd, was completed in April 2003.
The Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) has been introduced by the government as part of its commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions agreed at the 1997 International Climate Conference in Kyoto. Launched by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), it allows companies that reduce their energy consumption below targets set in Climate Change Agreements, to benefit financially. Carbon credits can either be banked for use in future years or, traded on the emissions trading market via a registry operated by DEFRA. Those participants who have failed to meet their targets can buy credits on the market to make up the shortfall.
The coordinated verification programme involved detailed data analysis supported by on-site inspections. Declarations made by each participant of their energy consumption and production in the 2001/2002 milestone year were scrutinised using an audit trail including meter readings, utilities invoices and other relevant data.
Finally, a sample of sites was inspected by a team of six SGS auditors.
"A Group Verification Scheme can not only save time but also be very cost effective,“ says Enviros Director, Ray Gluckman.
"We were able to co-ordinate the gathering and submission of declarations while SGS' sampling approach to site inspections has enabled some of the participants to save up to 75percent of verification fees.“
The programme involved participants from five trade associations: Food & Drink Federation, United Kingdom Agricultural Supply Trade Association; British Poultry Council; British Meat Federation and the UK Renderer's Association. Over 200 of the participating sites were awarded ETS certificates.
This represents phase 1 of the programme. Phase 2 will involve verification of at least 100 further participants who wish accumulate ETS credits for their own benefit.
SGS is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to carry out verification audits and issue opinions against the Emissions Trading Scheme. Audits consist of a review of documentation supplied by ET participants relating to declared energy use and production.
These records are then verified by on-site inspections.
