We’re delighted and extremely proud to announce that V12 Footwear has been certified as a carbon neutral company. We were certified ZeroCarbon® by The Sustainable Future Group, who are a leading provider of verification and certification services.

This environmental milestone is the culmination of a two-year-long company-wide drive to reduce our carbon emissions and enhance our sustainable manufacturing practices throughout every phase of our production.

WHAT DOES BEING A CARBON NEUTRAL COMPANY MEAN? 

Being a carbon neutral company means that because of what we’ve invested through carbon offsetting plus the different ways we have reduced our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, V12 Footwear has compensated for the emissions produced by the organisation at our Head Office and by our employees. Essentially, we’re carbon neutral because we’ve vastly reduced our carbon output, and any emissions we do create, we restore by investing in projects committed to preserving the environment. As a result, we've gained ZeroCarbon® certification. 

Confused by carbon and sustainability terms? Don’t be – we’ve made it simple for you at the end of this blog.

WHAT DOES V12 BEING CARBON NEUTRAL MEAN FOR YOU?

It means good news! 

• If you’re a distributor selling V12 Footwear, you’ll be able to tell your customers that their safety footwear is sustainable, and wearing it means they will be doing their planet – as well as their feet - a big favour. 
• Similarly, if you’re buying a pair for yourself, you’ll know that your V12 boots will be made to give you maximum protection from hazards, but with minimum impact on the planet.
  
  
  

"TRUE SUSTAINABILITY COMES FROM A COLLECTIVE EFFORT – NOT JUST ONE PERSON IN AN ORGANISATION.”

Chloe Oakley, V12’s Operations Coordinator who headed up the company’s carbon neutral drive said: 

“At V12, we believe responsible production is vital to safeguard the planet. Essentially, we need to strive to find ways to manufacture products with net neutral carbon emissions in carbon neutral companies. That’s why we’re so proud to have been independently certified as a carbon neutral company.”

This sense of pride and excitement is shared by V12's Managing Director, George Turner.

“I’m incredibly proud of the team for achieving this major milestone in our sustainability journey. Building on from our market-leading position of being the first UK safety brand to develop a range of carbon neutral boots, it's another example of our total commitment to do our best for the planet.”

REDUCTION IN PRODUCTION - CARBON CALCULATION

As well as teaming up with The Sustainable Future Group, V12 worked with integrated sustainability solutions provider The Climate & Conservation Consortium (CCC), who assisted them in calculating their emission data. Chloe explained:

“All of the data was gathered to a granular level, because the more detailed our understanding of our emissions was, the better we were able to identify the areas in which we could reduce it.”

And reduce it we did. Afterall, being an environmentally responsible company isn’t just about buying carbon credits and offsetting emissions – to be certified as a ZeroCarbon® company, V12 had to show it was committed to making significant and long-term carbon reductions in all phases of its production. And so, packaging was removed, production processes were streamlined, emissions from transportation was vastly decreased and more products were made in factories powered with renewable energy. Chloe continues: 

“It was a company-wide drive. True sustainability comes from a collective effort – not just one person in an organisation. And it was only through this teamwork that we’ve reached this environmental milestone.”

NEXT STEPS - AIMING HIGHER TO LOWER OUR CARBON

Despite receiving this certification and recently receiving a coveted ‘Green Apple’ (pictured) - an international sustainability award - for the carbon neutral safety boot range 'Lynx,' V12 aren't slowing down.

In fact, this is only a springboard towards ever more ambitious environmental goals.  

The company is now turning its attention to building on its award-winning carbon neutral product range, moving even more of its production into its closer to home European factories, as well as streamlining production processes further to ensure even cleaner and greener manufacturing.  

In addition, V12 has engaged with The Climate & Conservation Consortium to work toward developing a strategic roadmap to achieving the status of a net zero organisation in line with the Science Based Target Initiative.  

The V12 slogan is ‘Step Up in Comfort,’ but with its earth-friendly innovations and relentless passion for responsible manufacturing, it's giving wearers and customers a chance to take those steps in the most sustainable way.

To download our current Carbon Neutral certification for the V12 Footwear organisation, please click here. 

Additionally, have you seen the Lynx range yet? Get to know this environmental award-winner...