Redshaw projects bring Net Zero gains

28 September 2022

While many organisations such as publicly quoted companies are obliged to go green as part of their ESG requirements, many others also want to voluntarily become more environmentally responsible. However, working out what to do can be overwhelming. 

Redshaw Advisors is helping businesses to understand where they are on the route to Net Zero and the improvements they can make. These include carbon offsetting measures that will be needed until such time as they achieve true zero carbon status. 

The business was founded in 2014 by Louis Redshaw who has long been active in European carbon markets. 

James Blunt, head of voluntary carbon, shipping and aviation with the company, points out that businesses must first become carbon neutral before they are net zero because it is a long process. 

Redshaw Advisors offers a range of tools to help organisations understand what is involved. These include One Two Zero which gives guidance on assessing carbon footprints and identifying a strategy for reductions, and it is part of its Plannet Zero initiative which can help in implementing offsetting measures that best suit a particular organisation’s aims. 

Sam Hope, senior carbon advisor with Redshaw Advisors, tells me that interest in carbon offsetting has grown rapidly over the last 18 months. 

He says that once an organisation understands and calculates its carbon footprint and its Scope 1, 2 and 3 figures, a planned programme of annual reductions can be established to achieve Net Zero by a certain date. 

Until then, carbon offsetting measures can be used to make a business carbon neutral, thus counteracting its environmental impact. 

Plannet Zero can simplify this process, offering the opportunity to purchase Renewable Energy Certificates to address Scope 2 emissions (basically the indirect greenhouse gas emissions associated with purchasing electricity and other energy sources), as well as access to an offset marketplace to buy carbon offsets from selected carbon projects worldwide at fair prices. 

A company can invest in projects that closely match its interests, such as the type of products it offers, the markets it serves or its geographical areas of operation. 

One business that has worked with Redshaw Advisors is Obart Pumps and its sister company, Tsurumi UK. As reported previously, having established its carbon footprint (helped by the Square Gain consultancy also mentioned earlier, Obart invested in a highly appropriate project: a clean water borehole development in Mozambique, suggested by the Plannet Zero team. Indeed, Obart’s funding is to an extent that enable it to be in a carbon negative position. 

James Blunt says this shows how careful carbon offsetting can add real value to a business is terms of public recognition and awareness, as well as enhancing green credentials. 

“Consumers and customers are now more careful about where they buy goods and services from. Younger people looking for jobs also look closely now at an organisation’s green credentials when deciding on the company’s they would want to work for.” 

James also points out that having a sound environmental policy might help a business when trying to raise finance, and that a carefully chosen offsetting project can help build its reputation. 

Peter McMutrie, Obart Pumps’ sales director, says that using an expert consultancy gave three main benefits. “The first was getting good advice in a specialist field and the second was the reassurance that the project is bona fide: we have peace of mind that our funding will genuinely support a worthy cause. 

“Finally we found a project to support which was very appropriate to Obart’s business and adds real value to our operation.”