Our international accreditations
The carboNZeroCertTM programme (including CEMARSTM and the Small Enterprise Certification programme) has become the world’s first greenhouse gas certification scheme to receive international accreditation under the auspices of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF). See JAS-ANZ article >>
The international accreditation has been awarded by the Joint Accreditation System – Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) which is an international accreditation body established by a treaty between the New Zealand and Australian governments and linked through the IAF which promotes mutual acceptance of certification to common international standards.
JAS-ANZ accreditation is a critical part of the carboNZero programme’s plans to ensure their certification has the highest level of credibility and integrity.
This accreditation represents a number of significant milestones for the carboNZero programme, CEMARS and for New Zealand in general, namely;
- World’s first accredited GHG Certification Scheme
- First Crown Research Institute to be accredited as a Conformity Assessment Body status
- First accredited ISO14065 GHG verifier outside of the United States of America
CEMARS has been recognised by the UK Environment Agency as a Carbon Trust Equivalent scheme under the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme. The recognition has been awarded for CEMARS as operated by our partner Achilles Information Limited who operate the scheme in the UK under license to Landcare Research.
The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme comes into force from July 2010 and in the first year 2010/2011 participants' performance is judged on two ‘early action metrics’. One is the use of automatic meter readers, which enable organisations to gather accurate energy data. The other is achievement of an emissions reduction standard recognised by the Environment Agency, the regulator for the CRC energy Efficiency Scheme.
To achieve the early action metric, organisations must demonstrate that they have cut their emissions over one to three years, depending on their size. They must also commit to achieving future year-on-year reductions. The financial implications of League Table Performance from the early action metric can be significant in the first three years of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme.
The Environment Agency's decision was made on 14 May 2010 and confirmed that CEMARS met or exceeded each of the Carbon Trust Standard equivalence criteria specified in the Statutory Guidance issued by the Secretary of State to the Environment Agency under
Section 51 of the Climate Change Act 2008. CEMARS is the first greenhouse gas certification scheme to be recognised in this way.
What this means for our certified clients?
It is important for businesses to understand their emissions profile or carbon footprint. Measuring the footprint reveals opportunities to address inefficiencies and boost financial returns as well as make a positive environmental choice.
Because organisations and products are being compared by shareholders, stakeholders and markets on the basis of what their footprint is then they need assurances that everybody is being measured against a standard that has been verified so there are no misleading claims in the market. CEMARS and carboNZero certification provide this.
Our JAS-ANZ accreditation provides export clients with assurance that we’re accredited by a body that all their overseas markets recognise. Furthermore, it provides clients with assurances that their certification meets the requirements of international standards and is recognised in 50 major world economies.
Endorsement by the UK Government's environmental regulator means that UK organisations participating in the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme now have a choice between two approved providers when seeking greenhouse gas certification.
Our CEMARS and carboNZero certification options offer a robust framework for businesses here and overseas to measure and report their carbon footprint with confidence and credibility.
