Larkfleet Group goes carbon neutral

Bourne (near Peterborough) based builder and property developer Larkfleet Group is to make its offices 'carbon neutral'.

Larkfleet House at Southfield Business Park, Bourne - which is the headquarters for group companies including developer Larkfleet Homes and building contractor FE Peacock - is to 'offset' all its greenhouse gas emissions by paying for new woodland to be planted. The trees in the woodland will absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.

The amount of CO2 to be absorbed is being calculated to match the CO2 and other greenhouse gases created by company activities. The figures cover everything from the electricity used in Larkfleet House to the fuel used by company vehicles and the disposal of waste from the offices. The calculation also includes all the fuel used by office staff commuting to work.

The CO2 figures are being independently calculated by The CarbonNeutral Company which will then plant new woodland with sufficient trees to compensate for Larkfleet's use of resources.

Karl Hick, managing director of Larkfleet, said: "Climate change is something which every company should be taking seriously.

"At Larkfleet we are doing all that we can to reduce our impact on the environment by cutting down on energy use, recycling waste wherever possible and encouraging environmentally-friendly travel.

"However, we will always have some negative impact on the environment. 'Carbon offsetting' allows us to ensure that there are new woodlands being created which will soak up all the CO2 which we create at Larkfleet House."

The CarbonNeutral Company is one of the world's leading carbon offset and climate consulting businesses, set up in the early 1990s. It is currently helping thousands of people and hundreds of major companies to measure, reduce and offset their CO2 emissions. It is planting woodland around the world to offset the CO2 emissions of its clients.