What is PAS 2060?

Tackling climate change is an issue that goes beyond borders, and is a priority for governments worldwide. It is widely recognised that industry will play a significant role in in this, with many businesses beginning to embrace the need to operate in an environmentally responsible way and to both understand and minimise their impact on the planet.

In an effort to show their commitment to the environment, companies will claim to be carbon neutral, or that their emissions do not contribute to a net increase in global emission levels. PAS 2060 is an internationally recognised standard designed to verify the accuracy of these claims and help companies achieve carbon neutrality through an ongoing process of continual improvement. 

Developed by the British Standards Institution and implemented in 2010, PAS 2060 presents four key stages to carbon neutrality — measurement, reduction, offsetting and documentation. At the end of the process, businesses can pursue verification with an independent third party like NQA. Although the standard does allow companies to purchase carbon credits as part of the process, it's important to note that offsets must meet certain criteria, and companies cannot receive PAS 2060 verification using offsetting alone.

The standard builds on existing environmental standards such as ISO 14001 and PAS 2050, which deal with the emissions of products throughout their lifespans. No matter what sector you operate in, your organisation can use the PAS 2060 standard to strengthen relationships with customers and demonstrate your commitment to the environment.