Ask The Expert

Last year the government announced that public sector tenders worth more than £5M will no longer accept bids from companies who don’t include a credible carbon reduction plan. It is rumoured that this figure will reduce. From April 2022 all NHS procurements will include a minimum 10% net zero and social value weighting and from 2024 the NHS will require all suppliers to publish a carbon reduction plan. As the carbon emissions of one business contribute to the Carbon Footprint of their customers, it’s easy to see how need to fulfil these requirements will spread rapidly through the supply chain.

Since 1988 the environmental movement has developed at pace through a passion to save our planet, however until recently this passion was in a totally unregulated market. There are many providers of carbon footprint reports (CFRs), often with a convincing sales pitch and testimonials from satisfied customers. To the uninitiated, one carbon footprint report looks much like any other and it is tempting just to buy the cheapest. However, all CFRs are not created equally.

There are many organisations trying to do the right thing themselves, believing they have the internal knowledge and resources to calculate their emissions with the help of online tools and bespoke software packages. The market for these products is unregulated and their accuracy varies. If the calculation method is inaccurate a business might buy too many carbon offsets at great expense, or even too few offsets, defeating the original objective and leading to potential claims of greenwashing. In trying to do the right thing, organisations can leave themselves open to a PR disaster.

There are also professional services organisations promoting their beliefs on sustainable business practices. Many have been around for some time and in the absence of any recognised standards, have created their own, effectively marking their own homework. It has been acknowledged by certification bodies that this activity encourages a ‘wild west’ culture, which can again leave clients vulnerable to claims of greenwashing. Claims by companies that they are ‘carbon neutral’ are not always valid and may be met with scepticism. Companies such as Ryanair, Quorn and Shell have all recently been accused of un-verifiable sustainability claims.

Building on over 20 years of energy saving and supply chain experience, Auditel realised that a standard for demonstrating Carbon Neutrality was needed. Following extensive research, we adopted BSI PAS2060, the only internationally recognised standard for carbon neutrality.

PAS 2060 was developed by BSI (and other organisations such as BP Target Neutral and Forestry Commission) to specify the requirements an organisation needed to meet to demonstrate carbon neutrality. It could be argued that this was the game changer. Now an official standard has been set, it does leave spurious claims and practices open to criticism and debate. A benchmark has been established.

Auditel worked closely with British Standards Institute during the early part of 2021 to raise awareness of the benefits of using PAS2060 and became one of the first members of their Associate Consultants programme to be able to offer support to the standard.

PAS 2060 presents four key stages to carbon neutrality — measurement, reduction, offsetting and documentation. At the end of the process, businesses can seek verification with an independent third party like BSI or NQA. PAS 2060 applies to organisations of all sizes and sectors. You can use it to demonstrate the carbon neutrality of your entire business or to any uniquely identified subject, such as specific activities, products, services, buildings, projects, or events.

The benefits with PAS2060 are clarity, consistency and transparency, leaving no threat to claims of greenwashing. As knowledge about carbon-related legislation becomes more widespread, B2C and B2B customers (not to mention shareholders and investors) will increasingly scrutinise ‘green’ credentials. Moreover, ‘greenwashing’ is not only a PR disaster waiting to happen – as of September 2021 it became a criminal offence.

Ian Hopping

Carbon Solutions & Procurement Specialist T 01825 791128 M 07976 244456 W auditel.co.uk

County Business Clubs’ Wine of the Month July 2022

For July’s wine of the month, we have chosen a relatively new established vineyard at the foot of the South Downs, next to Devils Dyke, owned by Esme and Rupert.

After spotting Esme selling at a local farmers’ market, where she was offering visitors a taster of her wines, I was taken by the quality of their small batch wines. I asked Esme and Rupert how they first started out as wine growers and they commented with the following;

“We jumped on the roller coaster of vine growing back in 2010 when we established our small 6 acre vineyard on our working family farm. Traditionally, the farm had specialised in our Pedigree Sussex beef herd, sheep flock and livery yard but the idea of creating a vineyard had circulated for many years. Being lucky enough to have the perfect site on a green sand, south facing slope at the foot of the Downs, we finally took the plunge, and 8,500 vines went into the soil in April 2011. Having selected the main sparkling varieties of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, we also opted for Bacchus to compliment our range with a still white.

“Dealing with the seasonal variables that mother nature throws at you, or what at times feels like biblical plagues, can be stressful but also incredibly exciting. Our vineyard is small and so we and our customers have to celebrate and embrace what each year and vintage brings us. All our energies are focussed on producing the most exceptional quality fruit. We really want those fruit flavours to shine in our wines so follow a minimal intervention winemaking approach.” - Esme Crowther, Poynings Grange Vineyard

So, for this month’s CBC Wine of the Month, we have chosen their Rose de Noirs 2015, of which they are very proud. This wine is a perfect summer treat. 2015 was a great vintage and has resulted in a wonderful wine, which has an attractive light pink and golden hue with well integrated, fine bubbles. For me, on the nose, I get a hit of rhubarb and custard with a biscuity crumble to follow from the years of aging in the bottle. On the palate, we have balanced acidity with summer fruits and a hint of peach followed by grapefruit. Bravo, encore please! The price of their Rose de Noir is £29 a bottle.

In the winemakers own words; “Beautifully delicate in colour and brimming with characteristic Pinot red fruit flavours – cherries and strawberries but also plum and wild bramble. This wine has a savoury peppery nature which is clean and refreshing. Long ageing on its lees and in bottle enhances the complexity with biscuity flavours emerging. A delicious summer celebration wine.”

Other notable wines from this vineyard are the crisp 2015 Blanc de Blancs and their fresh, floral and elderflower driven 2018 Bacchus, most definitely worth a try.

A future plan is to bring customers to their estate so they can share the magnificent spot thevineyard occupies and of course a glass or two! Keep an eye out for this vineyard in the future, one to definitely savour in the sun this summer.

Michael Yeoman,

English Wine and International Wine Specialist

Michael Yeoman produces his own range of sustainable spirits with Spirit of the Downs (www. spiritofthedowns.co.uk) and works with small batch local vineyards with his Brighton and Hove Wine Club (www. brightonandhovewineclub.co.uk)