The company?s Longford operation in Tasmania is the first brick making facility to receive certification under the Federal Government?s voluntary Carbon Neutral Program.
For businesses, being carbon neutral means looking for ways to reduce energy emissions, which makes good business sense as well as being good for the environment.
The Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt said that it was fantastic to see an ever-expanding range of businesses coming on board to support the program and setting a new standard within their industries.
So far, more than 30 businesses across Australia have become carbon neutral and many more are in the process of certification.
Austral Bricks calculated the emissions from the extraction of raw materials from production through to the transportation and disposal of its product and found ways to reduce these emissions. These included switching some of its kiln operations from coal to gas, as well as improving the energy efficiency of lighting.
The remaining emissions have been offset through the purchase and cancellation of carbon offsets eligible under the government?s National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS).
?It sends a very clear message to our customers, business partners and the broader construction industry about our ongoing commitment to deliver sustainable products and processes and to conserve our precious natural resources,? Building Products national energy and sustainability manager of brickworks Steven Mouzakis said. Building Products produces Austral Bricks.
The Carbon Neutral Program is a voluntary scheme that certifies products, business operations and events as carbon neutral against the Australian Government?s National Carbon Offset Standard.
Source: The Hon Greg Hunt MP, Federal Minister for the Environment