Small firms should make as many energy efficiency gains as they can before considering carbon offsetting, one expert has claimed.
According to Hugh Jones, solutions director at the Carbon Trust, companies that improve efficiency can cut their emissions and save money.
However, such measures should not be limited to the company itself and managers should make sure they look at their supply chain to see if savings can be made there.
Mr Jones said: "This approach delivers a double bottom line benefit of reducing energy costs and avoiding the costs incurred through offsetting, not to mention doing the right thing for the environment."
Once they have taken these measures, managers should then look at carbon offsetting if they so desire, he added.
Meanwhile, PricewaterhouseCoopers has warned that firms will attract increased tax liabilities if their fleet of company cars emits too more than 160 grams of carbon per kilometre.
