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Net zero

Net zero means achieving a balance between the carbon emitted into the atmosphere, and the carbon removed from it. BSI's net zero standards are the enablers for the innovation, collaboration and acceleration needed to help organizations navigate the path to reducing emissions and achieving net zero carbon emissions.

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Empowering organizations to navigate ESG complexity with the ISO ESG Implementation Principles
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Empowering organizations to navigate ESG complexity with the ISO ESG Implementation Principles

The growing importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles is transforming how organizations operate. From addressing climate change to promoting social equity and ensuring sound governance, ESG considerations are now critical to business strategy and long-term success. But while ESG is a priority for many, the landscape remains fragmented and complex, with multiple reporting frameworks and standards that are often challenging to navigate. To address this issue, the ISO ESG Implementation Principles was developed, providing a free, practical solution for organizations worldwide. Why ESG matters Governments, investors, and consumers are increasingly holding organizations accountable for their environmental and social impacts, as well as their governance practices. ESG is no longer a "nice-to-have" but a fundamental aspect of business performance and reputation. Companies that fail to integrate ESG into their operations face greater regulatory scrutiny, risk, and reputational damage. Those that excel in ESG, on the other hand, can enhance stakeholder trust, attract investment, and drive long-term growth. Despite its importance, the challenge many organizations face is how to implement ESG effectively and consistently. This is where the ISO ESG Implementation Principles come in. For a more in-depth guide, download your copy of our free Little Book of ESG here. Developing ISO ESG Implementation Principles: A global collaborative effort The ISO ESG Implementation Principles is the result of a global, collaborative effort led by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the British Standards Institution (BSI), along with the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), and the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT). Developed with input from over 1,500 stakeholders across various sectors and regions, the ISO ESG Implementation Principles offer an inclusive approach to ESG that reflects diverse perspectives and industry needs. The principles provide practical, high-level guidance on ESG integration, helping organizations implement sustainable practices that align with global goals such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The goal is to establish a unified structure that simplifies ESG reporting, making it accessible to organizations of all sizes and those in developing countries. For SMEs, the guidance’s simplified approach and scalability are particularly beneficial, helping them implement strong ESG practices without needing extensive resources. For larger organizations, the ISO ESG Implementation Principles provide a global structure that ensures consistency and reliability in ESG reporting, supporting long-term success in an increasingly sustainability-focused world.  What do the ISO ESG Implementation Principles cover? The ISO ESG Implementation Principles are designed to address all three pillars of ESG—Environmental, Social, and Governance—in a holistic manner. They provide guidance on identifying key requirements across these areas, specifying measurable performance indicators to assess organizational maturity. By doing so, the ISO ESG Implementation Principles support companies in evaluating and improving their ESG performance over time. Here’s a quick overview of what is covered: Environmental: The ISO ESG Implementation Principles help organizations assess their environmental impact, covering areas such as resource management, energy efficiency, and carbon footprint quantification. Social: The guidance supports organizations in promoting diversity, social responsibility, human rights, and community engagement, ensuring that social concerns are fully integrated into business operations. Governance: Good governance practices—such as transparency, ethical decision-making, and compliance—are central to the ISO ESG Implementation Principles, providing a foundation for robust leadership and accountability. The ISO ESG Implementation Principles also signpost examples of key ISO standards that can help evidence Environmental, Social and Governance performance. If you are looking for guidance on the global approach to achieving net zero, discover the IWA 42 Net Zero Guidelines here. Understanding the benefits of the ISO ESG Implementation Principles The ISO ESG Implementation Principles provide a range of benefits that make such guidance an essential tool for organizations looking to integrate ESG effectively: Interoperability: The ISO ESG Implementation Principles was designed to work seamlessly with existing voluntary and regulatory ESG reporting frameworks and standards, simplifying compliance, and reducing duplication of effort whilst promoting harmonization across regions and sectors. Transparency: The guidance enhances the consistency and transparency of ESG reporting, making it easier for stakeholders—such as investors, regulators, supply chain partners and consumers—to understand and compare organizational performance. This is crucial for building trust and credibility. Reliability: By providing a structured, ISO-backed approach, the ISO ESG Implementation Principles help organizations deliver reliable, accurate ESG data that meets both regulatory demands and stakeholder expectations. This reliability is key for effective risk management and long-term strategic planning. Holistic ESG integration: The ISO ESG Implementation Principles address all elements of ESG together, ensuring that organizations take a balanced, integrated approach to sustainability. This not only improves ESG outcomes but also fosters innovation and drives sustainable growth. Scalability: Whether you’re a large multinational or a small business, the ISO ESG Implementation Principles are scalable to suit your needs. Its flexible structure allows organizations of all sizes to adopt ESG practices at their own pace, without compromising on quality. Global consistency: The guidance offers a standardized approach to ESG practices, enabling organizations to communicate their sustainability efforts effectively at both local and international levels. This global consistency helps businesses compete and thrive in a sustainability-focused marketplace. Alignment with global initiatives: The ISO ESG Implementation Principles support broader sustainability initiatives, including the UN SDGs and the ISO London Declaration, helping organizations align their ESG efforts with global goals and strengthen their contributions to a sustainable future. Further guidance to support climate transition planning In addition to the ISO ESG Implementation Principles, several other guidance documents are available to support climate transition planning. ISO 14060 is currently under development, and focuses on converting ISO’s net zero guidelines into the world’s first verifiable net-zero standard, helping organizations measure and verify their net zero commitments. BS ISO 32212 provides specific guidance for financial institutions on net zero transition planning, ensuring they can manage climate-related risks and opportunities effectively. Find out more. For smaller enterprises, BSI Flex 3030 offers practical tools for SMEs to develop and implement net zero plans, supporting their contribution to global sustainability goals. Each of these documents complements the ISO ESG Implementation Principles by addressing key aspects of climate transition planning. Get your free copy of the ISO ESG Implementation Principles Whether you're new to ESG or looking to enhance your existing practices, the invaluable ISO ESG Implementation Principles can improve your sustainability performance and reporting. Download your free copy of the ISO ESG Implementation Principles and start building a stronger, more sustainable future for your organization. New to ESG? Discover The Little Book of ESG The Little Book of ESG aims to provide a straightforward introduction to ESG. It covers how getting the fundamentals right can help to sustainably grow your business, and how you can start implementing ESG principles right away. Visit the Little Book of ESG dedicated page.Read more
Carbon neutral versus net zero: Clearing up the carbon confusion
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Carbon neutral versus net zero: Clearing up the carbon confusion

Has carbon-related and net zero terminology got you a little confused? You’re not alone. This handy guide clears up the key concepts used to discuss carbon and climate change. Carbon is incredibly versatile, forming more compounds than all the other elements combined. It occurs in all living organisms and is the sixth most common element on Earth. Carbon plays an essential part in everything from coal to graphite to diamonds to fizzy drinks. As a fundamental building block of life, carbon has many natural forms. There’s carbon dioxide gas, or carbon combined with hydrogen to form methane gas, and the hydrocarbons in crude oil. By mass, roughly 18.5% of our body is made from carbon, second only to oxygen. Human activity, like burning fossil fuels, releases additional carbon. This combines with oxygen in the atmosphere to produce the greenhouse gas (GHG) carbon dioxide. ‘Carbon’ is widely used as a shorthand for carbon dioxide. A glossary of net zero and carbon-related terms Carbon neutral: Carbon neutrality means that, after taking action to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, any remaining GHG emissions are ‘offset’ – or removed from the atmosphere – by an equivalent amount of carbon. Carbon neutrality can be claimed while companies are still on a pathway to net zero (and have started reducing carbon emissions). Net zero: Net-zero carbon means reducing greenhouse gas emissions across an organization’s value chain, with the goal of balancing the emissions produced and emissions removed from the earth’s atmosphere. Carbon offsetting: A practice in which carbon emissions are balanced by reduction in emissions elsewhere, usually through paying a third party (by purchasing carbon credits) to make emission reductions or sequester carbon. For example, emissions might be offset by investing in additional renewable energy sources or forestry projects, often in developing countries. Carbon capture (also known as Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage or CCUS): This is the process of capturing and dealing with carbon dioxide before it would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. For example, a power plant could capture its CO2 rather than releasing it. The carbon dioxide may be compressed into a liquid state and transported to a site where it can be pumped underground for storage. As an alternative to storage, CO2 can be used as a feedstock in a range of useful products and services. The UK government has announced an investment of up to £21.7 billion in the country’s first carbon capture and storage projects. Carbon budget: A carbon budget sets a cap on the amount of carbon that can be emitted in a given timeframe by a country or company. The UK introduced a system of national carbon budgets within the 2008 Climate Change Act, putting a figure on the maximum level of carbon emissions permitted if reduction targets are to be met. The UK is currently pursuing the fourth carbon budget , which commits to a 51% reduction below 1991 levels by 2025. The budget extends to the sixth period (2033-2037) at which point emissions will need to be 78% below 1990 levels. Carbon trading: Carbon trading is the buying and selling of rights that permit a company or other entity to emit a certain amount of carbon dioxide. Those carbon rights and the carbon trade are authorized by governments with the goal of gradually reducing overall carbon emissions and mitigating their contribution to climate change. Carbon trading is also referred to as carbon emissions trading. Carbon pricing: A payment level applied to carbon emissions to incentivize reductions in emissions. This might be charged as a tax or through an auctioned permit system. Carbon intensity: The amount of carbon emissions per-action. For example, the carbon intensity of electricity would be calculated by the number of grams of CO2 released to the atmosphere when a unit of electricity is generated. Or the carbon emissions resulting from a passenger travelling one kilometre. Carbon accounting: The process of measuring how much CO2 (or equivalent) an organisation emits. The Greenhouse Gas Protocol is the most widely used accounting standard. BS EN ISO 14064-1 is the most widely adopted GHG quantification standard. Carbon financing: Carbon financing provides funding for emissions-reducing projects and/or sustainable energy projects. Funding mechanisms put a monetary value on carbon emissions to, for example, allow companies looking to offset emissions by purchasing carbon credits. Carbon negative: Sometimes referred to as ‘climate negative’ (or even ‘climate positive’). The net result of an organization’s initiatives decreasing the total volume of carbon in the atmosphere. This can be thought of as going one step further than carbon neutral. Carbon removal: Taking carbon from the atmosphere and storing in a ‘carbon sink’ so that it can’t contribute to climate change. Sometimes known as carbon sequestration or carbon storage. Greenwashing: Providing false or misleading information about an organization’s sustainability efforts when trying to promote environmental credentials. Greenwashing doesn’t have to be intentional, and sometimes happens because an organization isn’t taking scope 3 emissions into account when undertaking carbon accounting. Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions: ‘Scopes’ are part of the basis for required greenhouse gas reporting in the UK. They include: Scope 1 - GHG emissions that a company makes directly. For example, its vehicle emissions or emissions associated with heating gas boilers. Sometimes known as ‘direct emissions. Scope 2 - Indirect emissions that are purchased but not combusted onsite. In practice this means electricity, and less commonly, imported heat, steam, or compressed air. Scope 3Emissions a company is indirectly responsible for in its value chain. For example, emissions associated with the products it buys from suppliers, or emissions that occur after a company has sold its goods or services. Sometimes these are referred to as upstream or downstream emissions. Standards that can help your organization achieve net zero The reduction of carbon emissions starts with measurement, and there is no reliable system of measurement without standardization.  Standards play a vital role in assisting organizations to first record and verify their emissions, and then to go on to plan and execute a credible and successful net zero transition. Important net zero standards include:  BS EN ISO 14064-1:2019 Greenhouse gases - Specification with guidance at the organization level for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals BS EN ISO 14064-2:2019 Greenhouse gases - Specification with guidance at the project level for quantification, monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emission reductions or removal enhancements PAS 2060:2014 Specification for the demonstration of carbon neutrality BS 8001:2017 Framework for implementing the principles of the circular economy in organizations. Guide BS EN ISO 50001:2018+A1:2024 Energy management systems. Requirements with guidance for use BS EN ISO 14067:2018 Greenhouse gases. Carbon footprint of products. Requirements and guidelines for quantification BS EN ISO 14091:2021 Adaptation to climate change. Guidelines on vulnerability, impacts and risk assessment BS ISO 14068-1:2023 Climate change management. Transition to net zero - Carbon neutrality PAS 2080:2023 Carbon management in buildings and infrastructure Learn more about how standards are supporting organizations to reduce their carbon emissions by visiting our Net Zero topic page. Discover more about BSI Membership Become a BSI member and you’ll be joining 11,000+ organizations committed to making positive change through standards. You’ll get extra support in implementing standards via a team of research professionals and stay up to date with relevant changes to standards with a monthly spreadsheet. Your personalized Membership certificate and digital Membership badge will help your organization stand out from the competition too. And every member enjoys a 50% saving on British Standards and BSI Knowledge subscriptions, and up to 50% on other standards and subscriptions. Find out more about BSI Membership here.
The BS ISO 59000 series: How to implement the circular economy into your organization
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The BS ISO 59000 series: How to implement the circular economy into your organization

In today's world, where sustainability and resource efficiency are paramount, the concept of a circular economy (CE) has emerged as a transformative solution. The newly published BS ISO 59000 family of standards is designed to facilitate this transition by harmonizing the understanding and implementation of the circular economy.  The circular economy for organizations is a systemic approach to economic development designed to benefit businesses, society, and the environment.  Unlike the traditional linear economy, which follows a 'take, make, dispose' model, the circular economy aims to keep resources in use for as long as possible, extract the maximum value from them while in use, then recover and regenerate products and materials at the end of their service life.  For organizations, this means rethinking and redesigning business models, products, processes, and services to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency.  This is where standards come in. Aimed at organizations across all sectors—government, industry, and non-profit—the BS ISO 59000 series of standards supports the transition and builds upon the guidance of BS 8001 Framework for implementing the principles of the circular economy in organizations. Guide. Understanding the circular economy framework The BS ISO 59000 series aims to standardize the principles, implementation, and measurement of the circular economy. These standards are designed to be universally applicable, assisting organizations in contributing to the United Nations (UN) Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.  The series includes several standards, with BS ISO 59004, BS ISO 59010, and BS ISO 59020 being published recently. BS ISO 59004: Principles and vision of the circular economy Scope: defines CE, its vision, principles, and general implementation guidance. Purpose: helps organizations understand and commit to CE, contributing to sustainable development. Application: applicable to any organization, regardless of size, type, or sector, globally. BS ISO 59010: Transitioning to circular business model Scope: provides business-oriented guidance for transitioning to circular business models and value networks. Purpose: offers a structured methodology for integrating circularity into business strategies. Application: focuses on business strategies at organizational and inter-organizational levels. BS ISO 59020: Measuring and assessing circularity performance Scope: offers a framework for measuring and assessing circularity performance using standard indicators. Purpose: assists organizations in monitoring their circularity performance and sustainability impacts. Application: applicable at various scales, from regional to product levels, and across all sectors. Why implement the BS ISO 59000 standards? The BS ISO 59000 series of standards offers a robust framework for organizations to transition to a circular economy. By adopting these standards, organizations can reap numerous benefits that span environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Global consistency and comparability The BS ISO 59000 series provides an internationally standardized approach to CE, ensuring consistent implementation across the globe. This harmonization facilitates comparability and benchmarking, enabling organizations to measure their performance against international standards. Comprehensive frameworks Each standard within the BS ISO 59000 series addresses different aspects of the circular economy. BS ISO 59004 sets the foundational principles, BS ISO 59010 provides business-oriented guidance, and BS ISO 59020 offers tools for measurement and assessment. Together, they create a comprehensive framework that covers the entire transition process. Adaptability across sectors The standards are designed to be non-sector-specific, making them adaptable to any industry. Whether in manufacturing, services, government, or non-profit sectors, organizations can tailor these standards to their specific needs, ensuring broad applicability and relevance. Support for sustainable development By adopting these standards, organizations can align their operations with the UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. The BS ISO 59000 series not only promotes resource efficiency and waste reduction but also supports broader sustainability goals, including social and economic development. Enhanced business performance Transitioning to a circular economy can lead to significant business benefits, including cost savings from resource efficiency, new revenue streams from circular business models, and improved resilience against resource scarcity. The structured approach provided by BS ISO 59010 helps businesses strategically plan and implement these changes. Want to learn more? Discover how standards are supporting sustainability initiatives and the transition to net zero by visiting our Net Zero Topic Page. Solving industry circular economy challenges The BS ISO 59000 series addresses several critical challenges faced by organizations in transitioning to a circular economy: Unified definitions and principles: provides a common language and understanding of CE, which is essential for collaboration and implementation across different sectors and regions. Implementation framework: offers practical guidance on transitioning to circular business models, helping organizations move from theory to action. Measurement and assessment: establishes standardized methods for measuring circularity performance, enabling organizations to track progress and identify areas for improvement. By adopting these standards, organizations can accelerate their transition to a circular economy, minimize resource use, and optimize the circular flow of resources, thereby contributing to sustainable development on a global scale.
Net Zero Guidelines: A common understanding of net zero
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Net Zero Guidelines: A common understanding of net zero

The term ‘net zero’ is everywhere – used by Governments, organizations, and individuals alike to describe their efforts in working towards achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions. However, the concepts and fragmented approaches to net zero can breed confusion. The Net Zero Guidelines (IWA 42:2022) is a revolutionary global tool that defines a consistent approach to achieving net zero and harmonizes the current landscape of net zero guidance. But first, why is everyone trying to achieve net zero? The Paris Agreement (2015) was the first-ever global agreement on climate change. 194 countries pledged that they would reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Achieving this goal is crucially important and requires a huge reduction in global net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions based on scientific evidence. What are the IWA 42 Net Zero Guidelines? Launched at COP27, the Net Zero Guidelines were developed to address  the fragmented net zero governance landscape by providing a single core reference text that covers all stages of net zero action. Commissioned by Our 2050 World, over 1,200 experts from over 100 countries contributed to the Net Zero Guidelines through the ISO’s International Workshop Agreement (IWA) process. They are underpinned by the theory that producing a globally accepted and consistent approach to achieving net zero will mean that net zero claims are easier to compare and can be scaled through better regulation. The result is an international document which offers countries, governments, policymakers and organizations global net zero definitions and concepts for harmonizing, understanding, and planning for net zero. The Net Zero Guidelines cover the guiding principles and recommendations to enable a common, global approach to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions through the alignment of voluntary initiatives, adoption of standards, policies and national and international regulation. Learn more about how standards support government, industries and businesses to achieve net zero by visiting our Net Zero Topic Page. Standardizing understanding of net zero The Net Zero Guidelines set a common path for:  The definition of “net zero” and related terms (greenhouse gas removals, offsetting, value chain, etc) Clarifying the differences in scope between direct emissions, indirect emissions from purchased energy, and other indirect emissions arising from an organization’s activities High-level principles for all actors who want to achieve net zero Actionable guidance including recommendations on transparent communication, credible claims, and consistent reporting on emissions, reductions and removals This globally agreed standardization of net zero is a vitally important step in our international efforts to achieve our climate change targets. It gives leaders (in both government and businesses) clarity and confidence that their near and long-term efforts are aligned with climate science and that of the rest of the world. Discover why net zero is important to your industry and the efforts being taken to achieve it with our Net Zero Infographic Tool. Who should use the Net Zero Guidelines? The Net Zero Guidelines were developed for use by any organization – whether that is a national government, city or local authority, business, or NGO. If you set targets and take action towards getting to net zero for your greenhouse gas emissions - including Scope 3 emissions in your value chain - the Net Zero Guidelines can help to bring clarity and a comparative framework for your activities. Implementing the guidance within this document involves processes like your organization’s leadership showing commitment and accountability of net zero action, planning, actions and results of the actions. Similarly, the Net Zero Guidelines also recommend that continuous improvement should be part of the planning and appropriate changes and corrections should be executed when necessary. To support businesses in their adoption of net zero best practice, we have developed the BSI Net Zero Pathway. This is not a standard, but an overarching scheme which includes elements taken from ISO 14064-1, the IWA 42:2022 Net Zero Guidelines and PAS 2060. This scheme is applicable to all organizations regardless of size or sector. Learn more about the BSI Net Zero Pathway here. While adopting this guidance will likely require changes within your organization, making these changes will allow you to: Ease the planning process of your net zero efforts. Work efficiently and consistently towards achieving your net zero targets. Give credibility to your net zero activities and claims and reduce your organisation’s risk of greenwashing. Allow you to compare your progress like-for-like globally and report on it consistently. Get a clearer understanding of where to find more detailed information in other net zero standards and initiatives, e.g., the BS EN ISO 14064 Greenhouse Gas Emission standard series and the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Markets (ICVCM) - and indicates when it might be necessary to implement them. To contribute to global climate action, the Net Zero Guidelines are available for free. Download them here today.

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