Virgin Atlantic to debut in-flight carbon offset scheme

by Alex Donohue, Brand Republic 07-Nov-07, 13:30

LONDON - Virgin Atlantic is to offer passengers the chance to offset the carbon emissions from their travel during flights after partnering with climate protection organisation Myclimate to create an independently endorsed scheme.

The programme, called the Gold Standard Carbon Offset Scheme, will contribute to environmental initiatives in India and Indonesia, including renewable energy power plants that run from sugar cane and farming waste.

The airline has also produced information calculating the amount of carbon each of its flights produces from details verified by CICS, the greenhouse gas verification company.

The data from CICS explains how much each passenger contributes to the production of carbon in the atmosphere, based on whether they are travelling first or economy class and the amount of cargo taken on each flight.

It will flag up the scheme to passengers during online booking and on board flights.

Virgin Atlantic said the scheme, which has been endorsed by 49 NGOs and environmental groups, would aim to limit the impact of air travel on the environment and create a standard that guaranteed positive additional impacts on local communities in the developing world.

Myclimate, a Swiss-based environmental charity, funds the environmental initiatives passengers can contribute to which include the creation of a hydropower dam in Indonesia.

Sir Richard Branson, president of Virgin Atlantic, said: "This effective carbon offsetting option is unique as it supports only Gold Standard projects. We hope our passengers will be keen to become members of our Gold Standard mile high offset club."