Icelandic Water Holdings Announces CarbonNeutral Certification
As part of the certification process, Icelandic Glacial was recognized for its ongoing efforts to continually measure and reduce its carbon emissions and offset any remaining environmental impact that contributes to global warming.
19/06/07 Icelandic Water Holdings ehf., maker of Icelandic Glacial Natural Spring Water, announced that it has received CarbonNeutral Certification from leading climate change company, The CarbonNeutral Company, making Icelandic Glacial the first super-premium bottled water distributed in the United States to be recognized for its ongoing commitment to reduce its overall carbon imprint on the environment. As part of the certification process, Icelandic Glacial was recognized for its ongoing efforts to continually measure and reduce its carbon emissions and offset any remaining environmental impact that contributes to global warming.
At a time when the bottled water industry has recently been subjected to criticism related to its overall impact on the environment and contributions to global warming, Icelandic Glacial is taking a leadership position within the bottled water industry to assess its overall impact on the environment.
"Icelandic Glacial is excited to take a leadership role in the international bottled water community to reduce our overall impact on the environment, and encourage others within the industry to follow in our footsteps and take active steps to create a better environment and a better world," says Jon Olafsson, Chairman of Icelandic Glacial. "Today's announcement is just the beginning of an ongoing commitment to continually assess every aspect of our business so that we can take ongoing positive action in the international fight against global warming,"
The CarbonNeutral Company is one of the world's leading carbon offset and climate consulting businesses. Since 1997 the company has worked with hundreds of leading international companies, including Avis, Barclays and Sky, each of which is taking voluntary steps to measure and then to reduce their emissions through internal measure as well as externally through carbon offsetting. When emissions are reduced to net zero, companies may apply the CarbonNeutral brand mark.
"It is great to see a market-leading bottled water company taking this issue seriously and working hard to achieve CarbonNeutral status" says Jonathan Shopley, Executive Director of The CarbonNeutral Company. "We hope Icelandic Glacial's leadership will encourage other companies to follow suit and reduce their carbon emissions."
In order to receive CarbonNeutral certification, a company must follow the CarbonNeutral Protocol, a framework for effective action created by The CarbonNeutral Company. Companies going through this process are required to take meaningful and ongoing voluntary action on their contribution to minimizing climate change. To carry the trademark on a product or activity, a company's CO2 emissions must have been accurately assessed, the areas of reduction identified, and the remaining emissions offset through high quality carbon projects around the world. Companies must also take an active role in communicating the specific actions they will be taking to reduce their impact on global climate change.
In achieving its CarbonNeutral brand mark, Icelandic Glacial has set itself apart as a true pioneer in the bottled water industry, not simply purchasing energy offsets, but making a longstanding commitment in the following three areas:
1.Assessment: Icelandic Glacial continually monitors its carbon footprint in every area of activity within the entire company and throughout its supply chain. Because the company already uses only geothermal and hydroelectric natural energy in its manufacturing facility based in Iceland, Icelandic Glacial's initial carbon footprint is already much lower than conventional U.S. bottled water producers. The company's assessment takes into account the energy and resources consumed by the company and its employees in all activities and operations.
2.Reduction: Icelandic Glacial has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to identify areas in which the company can reduce emissions wherever possible. The company's focus includes switching to local energy providers instead of using fossil fuel derived energy vendors outside of Iceland, restricting flights and travel wherever possible, using low energy lighting throughout its manufacturing plants and other offices, recycling where possible and encouraging suppliers, customers and employees to employ these same practices on an ongoing basis.
3.Offset: Icelandic Glacial has also outlined specific ways the organization will offset any remaining emissions they are responsible for using bona-fide programs.
