Learn about our most recent updates to the Provenance Framework
In Focus: Carbon Offsetting - What Counts as Meaningful?
Recently, we have revisited the criteria of our Carbon Offsetting Proof Point to ensure it always indicates a brand offsets a meaningful amount of emissions, relative to its own carbon footprint.
Over recent years there has been an astronomical rise in the purchase of carbon offsets by firms struggling to reduce their emissions directly in pursuit of net-zero targets. At Provenance, we’ve noticed a rise in claims that either have little impact, are minimal compared to a typical carbon footprint or fund poorly-managed projects.
Therefore, we have updated our Carbon Offsetting Proof Point to indicate a brand has 1) calculated its scope 1, 2 & 3 emissions; and 2) has purchased high-quality offsets (e.g Gold Standard) that remove no less carbon than the total of both its scope 1 & 2 emissions or 20% of the total footprint (whichever is greater). These updates are intended to encourage a more impactful, evidenced-led and transparent use of these schemes.
Other Framework updates:
- Coral Reef Safe: 2 new harmful chemicals, octocrylene and avobenzone, added to the list of banned ingredients
- Recyclability Proof Points (Partly and Widely): product weight no longer required, instead, the main component of a product must be recyclable
- Safe Cosmetics Australia’s ‘SCA Verified’ has been added as a certificate-based Proof Point