XBRL 'could help increase competitiveness'

News Article - 13 July 2007
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Companies using green tariffs may not be as environmentally-friendly as they thought, according to the Guardian.

The government is proposing changes that would mean companies who have invested in green electricity tariffs to reduce their carbon footprints will no longer be able to claim carbon savings because they are using power from renewable sources.

Environment secretary Hilary Ben said it was difficult to prove that buying a renewable electricity tariff helped reduce carbon emissions.

Green tariffs use the five per cent of UK electricity generated from renewable sources, which suppliers claim they can ringfence and sell separately.

Harry Morrison of the Carbon Trust said: "Many companies bought these tariffs in good faith but there are no guarantees that they actually save carbon."

He added that companies were worried about how the proposed changes would affect their corporate image.

One way companies can demonstrate corporate social responsibility is by using carbonaccounting software.

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