> The Standard > Key rules

To achieve the Carbon Trust Standard you will need to demonstrate compliance in three key areas:

1. Calculation of an appropriate carbon footprint

The minimum footprint required for initial certification includes the following emission sources:

• Electricity consumption
• Gas consumption
• Other onsite fuel consumption (e.g. heating oil, diesel, etc.)
• Fuel consumption in vehicles owned by the organisation which are based at premises covered by the assessment.

Once you have achieved initial certification, you will be required to increase the coverage of your carbon footprint for the next certification period, to include:

• Process emissions (e.g. emissions associated with the manufacture of chemical or metal products)
• Fugitive emissions (e.g. leakage of HFCs from refrigeration or air conditioning systems)
• Emissions from business travel including public transport, private car and flights (in vehicles not owned by the organisation)
• Organisations may choose to include other emissions sources.

Our approach to carbon footprint measurement is based on the existing GHG Protocol Corporate Standard developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and ISO14064

All carbon emissions are calculated using the latest Defra GHG conversion factors. To view the latest conversion factors visit www.defra.gov.uk/environment/business/envrp/conversion-factors.htm

2. Demonstration of carbon footprint reduction

The Carbon Trust Standard requires you to demonstrate an emissions reduction, either:

• An absolute reduction in emissions compared to the previous footprint measurement, OR
• An equivalent reduction in a carbon efficiency benchmark (e.g. tCO2 per £m turnover). The required relative reduction rate for organisations based in OECD countries is 2.5% p.a.

For more information see our comparison of relative and absolute reduction requirements.

3. Evidence of good carbon management practices

Finally, you need to provide evidence that your organisation is acting effectively to respond to climate change through action in the following areas:

• Governance i.e., policy, responsibilities, reporting
• Carbon accounting i.e., procedures for data collection and data quality
• Carbon management i.e., targets, reduction programmes, investments and training.

Please click for more details on our assessment methodology, how the Standard compares to other schemes or to read about the benefits of the Standard.