The CarbonCare^® Label is a unique scheme. Since its launch in late 2011, over 360 labels have been awarded to listed companies, private companies, government departments, public bodies, social enterprises, NGOs, hotels, commercial buildings/ venues etc. The Scheme has evolved much to reflect and recognise the sustainability efforts of businesses and organisations.

Applicants may choose either one or all of the three initiatives: entity-wide carbon management (CarbonCare^® Label/ CarbonCare^® Champion Label), best practice for ESG Reporting (CarbonCare^® ESG Label) or proactive support for circular economy (CarbonCare^® Circularity Label). Each of the labels requires substantive effort to achieve, but they all are a recognition of excellence in the journey to sustainability.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected economic and social life in Asia and throughout the world. No responsible policy-makers should focus purely on economic recovery without using the opportunity to address climate emergency, which will in all likelihood produce more severe and lasting impacts than the pandemic. For corporate leaders, the changed landscape for social values and customer expectation provides a striking new context for the transition to sustainable business models.

The theme of CarbonCare^® Label 2020 responds to the call by the global “Race to Zero” campaign to rally leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions and investors worldwide for a healthy, resilient, zero carbon recovery after the pandemic. Linking decarbonisation to sustainable recovery is the pathway to prevent future threats, create decent jobs and unlock inclusive, sustainable growth in a post-COVID era.

In keeping with the widespread practice of environmental awards being supervised by value-driven, non-governmental organisations with a non-profit status, CarbonCare^® labels are awarded by CarbonCare InnoLab under the supervision of an independent expert panel. Verification service is provided by Carbon Care Asia.

CarbonCare InnoLab (CCIL) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the nurturing and development of innovative solutions, policies and practices in response to today's climate change and sustainability challenges. CCIL is a charitable body registered in Hong Kong, enjoying tax exemption status under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance.

Carbon Care Asia is a social business which provides professional consultancies and other services through a market-based approach. The two organisations operate with independent governance structures, but share a common aim to promote a sustainable future.

Both the CarbonCare^® Label and the CarbonCare^® Champion Label encourage and recognize the efforts of companies and organisations in their action to tackle climate change and achieve carbon reduction/neutrality status by Measuring, Reducing and Offsetting (MRO) their carbon footprints.

1. All organisations including listed companies, private companies, public bodies, social enterprises and NGOs are eligible to apply.
2. The entity must establish its emission baseline and emission inventory. Reduction and offset performance is validated and verified in accordance with a specific protocol based on international best practice before measurement.
3. There are six CarbonCare^® Labels representing different levels of achievement in carbon reduction/neutrality – with green labels in one, two, three, four and five leave(s) respectively recognizing the achievement of 5% (starter), 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% emissions in the application year against a defined base year, and a gold CarbonCare^® Champion Label indicating the achievement of carbon neutrality.

For committed achievers who have managed to attain the CarbonCare^® Label or the CarbonCare^® Champion Label continuously over a period of three years or more (including 2020), they will be awarded an additional CarbonCare^® Star Label as a special recognition.

Ever since the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) has raised ESG Reporting to “Comply or Explain” level from January 2016, investor expectations on the quality of disclosure have continued to increase. New amendments to the ESG Reporting Guide by the HKEX have officially become effective on 1 July 2020, which sets elevated requirements and expectations on the sustainability playing field. The CarbonCare^® ESG Label 2020 is consistently upgraded to reflect the latest international trends, regulatory requirements and community aspirations. It is designed to give special recognition to best performers in ESG reporting in four important areas: company board accountability, materiality assessment, disclosure of social KPIs, and corporate climate actions.

The applicant's current ESG report has

1. followed the ‘comply or explain’ provisions of the HKEX ESG Guide on general disclosures and environmental KPIs; and
2. disclosed at least one of the following four areas:

a. governance structure with Board accountability on ESG-related issues in the Company; or

b. materiality assessment through dedicated stakeholder engagement process(es); or

c. KPIs in at least 5 out of the 8 Social Aspects (B1 – B8) in the ESG Guide; or

d. climate-related policies and risk-mitigation actions.

3. Four levels of recognition will be awarded, dependent on the applicant’s achievements in one, two, three or four areas in (2) above.

The new CarbonCare^® Circularity Label introduced from 2020 aims to provide a framework for public or private sector organisations keen to introduce Circular Economy concepts into their operations. Starting with paper products for the pilot phase, the Label will quantitatively measure the recycling performance of the applicants. The CarbonCare^® Circularity Label is organisation-based and follows the system thinking advocated by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

This label encourages achievement of circularity through concrete actions including:

• Design out waste and pollution through increasing the recycling of recyclable used paper products;
• Keep products and materials in use through creating an end market for recycled paper products and supporting the improvement of the local infrastructure for recycling;
• Regenerate natural systems through reducing virgin paper use of unrecyclable paper products.

1. All organisations including listed companies, private companies, public bodies, social enterprises and NGOs are eligible to apply.
2. The applicant must have conducted an independent waste audit at least once every three years, or a waste snapshot survey at least once within the past year.
3. The applicant must have a record of all its purchased paper products within the past year.
4. Having achieved a minimum percentage of recycled paper and recycling rate considering all purchased paper products.

Whether you are a listed company, a private company, a social enterprise or an NGO, you are likely to face a radically different operation environment as a result of climate change – changes in policies, reporting requirements, resource constraints, extreme weather, health issues, involuntary migration and changing demographics. The first step to protect your operation from such risks and to capture new opportunities is to do a climate-check. These are the benefits of obtaining a CarbonCare^® Label:

• Enhance brand value through stakeholder engagement and media exposure
• Utilize a special promotion package developed for awardees of CarbonCare^® Label 2020 ^Note

• Receive recognition of achievements based on international best practice
• Credibility of a rigorous protocol overseen by an Expert Advisory Panel of eminent academics

• Receive expert advice on carbon accounting, reduction/offset solutions, ESG reporting and recycling for circular economy
• Prepare to reduce risks, save costs and increase revenue through sustainability innovations
• Become a recognised leader in carbon solutions, ESG performances and recycling initiatives

All awardees of the CarbonCare^® Label will be invited to special events organized by CCA and CCIL, and will also enjoy the benefits of a special promotion package developed with our sponsors and partners:

1. Invitation to attend the CarbonCare^® Label Award Ceremony;
2. Participate in a virtual expo and conference at the end of the year;
3. Photo opportunities for award presentation by the officiating guest;
4. Post-ceremony publicity in the social media and CCA / CCIL website;
5. Use of CarbonCare^® Label logo on company letterheads, business cards, website and display areas.

Supporting Partners of CarbonCare^® Label 2020: