A Cumbrian branding specialist said it has been officially certified as being carbon neutral.

Ast Signs, a national company based in Cumbria and Warrington, received the certification in accordance with PAS2060.

PAS2060 is a specification which details how to demonstrate carbon neutrality, produced and published by the British Standards Institution, a national standards body.

An organisation being carbon neutral means it doesn't add to the total amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by doing things, for example, planting trees in order to remove as much carbon dioxide as it creates.

Ast employs over 80 people and is the first UK branding company of its size to achieve carbon-neutral status. 

Over the last two years, the company has been working towards becoming carbon neutral, introducing solar panels, electric cars, charging points, and energy-efficient technologies, increasing recycling and reducing travel and fuel consumption.

It is now working towards becoming net zero, a term which means achieving a balance between the greenhouse gases put into the atmosphere and those taken out.

Managing director at Ast, Mark Aston, said: “We’re proud to be the first branding company of our size to become carbon neutral in accordance with PAS2060 and the last two years have been a great learning process – we’re now working hard to become net zero.  

"It’s good to know we’re doing everything we can to work sustainably and us being carbon neutral will be of huge value to our clients, who are conscious of their own carbon footprint.”

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