offset your business carbon dioxide emissions

Offsetting your businesses carbon dioxide emissions involves the removal of an equivalent or greater amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, compared with the emissions your organisation is responsible for. Combined with an effective emissions reduction strategy, these two measures can have a real effect on reducing the environmental impact of your organisation.

WLT offsets are measurable, verifiable and have the protection of critically endangered habitats and their biodiversity as their primary objective. WLT offsets are produced through restoration ecology projects currently taking place in Mexico and Ecuador although we are continually looking into possible expansion of the portfolio.

Male Green Honeycreeper,
Buenaventura, Ecuador
© Andrew Smiley

Businesses like to claim ‘carbon neutrality’ but we must be clear what this means in real terms. Emissions are sequestered as trees grow, so although the process has been started it will not be complete for 20 years. ‘Carbon neutral’ implies emissions are offset now, attracting strong criticism when the term is used for reforestation projects where the trees have only just been planted. WLT's offsets are different in so far as we are also offering the opportunity to supplement a standard offset with an avoided deforestation component. Avoided deforestation supplements (which must pass additionality and leakage criteria) are used for the purchase and protection of forested land under the most imminent threat of clearance (i.e. within 24 months) which, if it had been cleared, would have released an equivalent amount of stored carbon to the atmosphere. This brings the offset close to strict ‘carbon neutrality’ and further boosts the associated biodiversity benefits.

Carbon balanced companies receive a WLT certificate to acknowledge their support and permission to use the Carbon Balanced logo in conjunction with marketing materials. As a charity, WLT's most valuable assets are its reputation and the loyalty of its supporters and for this reason we are very careful not to participate in any ‘greenwash’ activities and carry out strict due diligence checks on all prospective carbon balanced companies. By remaining prudent, transparent and accountable in all its actions, WLT continues to be one of the most credible providers in the voluntary offset market.