"Origin considers greenhouse gas emissions to be the most significant environmental challenge facing its business and the world today. In this respect, Origin has two key objectives in this area:
To reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of its own business, and
To reduce the greenhouse intensity of its customers’ energy consumption
Carbon offsets are an important part of a carbon reduction strategy. The strategy includes:
Understanding and measuring your emissions (direct & indirect emissions across the supply chainA network of retailers, distributors, transporters, storage facilities, and suppliers that participate in the production, delivery, and sale of a product to the consumer.)
Reviewing all available emissions mitigation measures (including at source reductions, GreenPower and offsets). For example at a business or national level this could involve the development of a marginal abatementA reduction in the amount or intensity of greenhouse gas emissions as a result of actions taken by a company or individual. curve - a costing of available carbon reduction options per tonne
Setting emission policies and make reduction commitments
Reducing emissions at source (eg through energy efficiencyEnergy efficiency improvements refer to a reduction in the energy used for a given service (heating, lighting, etc.) or level of activity. Such savings are generally achieved by substituting technologically more advanced equipment to produce the same level of end-use services (e.g. lighting, heating, motor drive) with less electricity. , fuel switching, process improvements and redesign)
Replacing polluting energy sources with clean renewable sources like GreenPower
Offset appropriate emissions
Engage the stakeholders in your sphere of influence to do the same (for example, in the case of business' your staff and customers)
For some, purchasing offsets can be a fast and simple first step that begins the process of internalising carbon costs and raising carbon awareness, in-turn triggering internal behaviour change. For others, purchasing offsets is something they do later on, for example after developing a carbon strategy, reducing as much carbon at source - they then 'offset the rest'."