CSA Group achieves carbon neutrality across global corporate operations

TORONTO , Dec. 10 /CNW/ - CSA Group, consisting of CSA Standards, CSA International and OnSpeX, today announces that it has achieved carbon neutrality for its entire global corporate operations. Headquartered in Toronto , CSA Group has offices and laboratories across North America as well as in Europe and Asia.

"As a global provider of climate change services and solutions for businesses, it is imperative that CSA Group establishes, registers and offsets its own carbon footprint through an open and transparent process that demonstrates leadership and corporate social reasonability," says Ash Sahi, President and CEO, CSA Group. "Only by establishing our environmental impact can we continuously improve upon our own sustainable best practices and contribute to a better, safer and more sustainable world.

In November 2009 , CSA Group completed a greenhouse gas inventory of its global operations by following the requirements of ISO standard 14064-1 Greenhouse gases - Part 1: Specification with guidance at the organization level for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals. CSA Group calculated that its global operations generated 11,104 metric tonnes of CO(2)e emissions for fiscal year 2007-08 from four categories of activities, including; GHG emissions from employee air travel; buildings; its vehicle fleet; and emissions from auditor and investigator car travel. The inventory was independently verified and audited by the accounting firm GDTS. Through the ongoing investment in carbon offset projects, CSA Group is now carbon neutral.

As further evidence of its commitment to the environment, CSA Group strives to hold carbon neutral events such as the Annual CSA Standards Conference. CSA Group will continue to monitor its environmental footprint and will continue efforts to greatly improve recycling, reduce energy consumption and GHG emissions at all of its offices in order to help improve the global community in which it operates.

CSA Group's divisions deliver a wide-range of environmental solutions. CSA Standards manages the Canadian Advisory Committees that provide input to other international environmental standards activities. CSA Standards' GHG registries assist organizations of all sizes in reducing their carbon footprint, and achieving carbon neutrality. CSA International laboratories test and certify a number of existing and emerging environmental technologies, such as photovoltaic (PV) panels, fuel cells, solar domestic hot water heaters and collectors, low-flow bathroom fixtures, LED home lighting, household appliances and other similar products designed to help reduce emissions and water consumption or to conserve energy. OnSpeX offers product performance testing and evaluation services for the consumer product retail market.

For more information on CSA Group Environmental Solutions, visit http://green.csagroup.org/

About CSA Group

CSA Group is an independent, not-for-profit membership association serving business, industry, government and consumers. CSA Group consists of three divisions: CSA Standards, a leading standards-based solutions organization, providing standards development, application products, training and advisory services; CSA International, which provides testing and certification services for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, gas and a variety of other products; and OnSpeX, a provider of consumer product evaluation, inspection and advisory services for retailers and manufacturers. For more, visit www.csagroup.org

For further information: Marco A. Ouji, Media Relations Officer, CSA Group, T: [phone], E: [email protected]