Big wave of companies to become carbon neutral

Some days ago we informed of the intentions of Swiss Re, a giant reinsurer, to offer incentives to its employees for contributing to reductions in their carbon footprint. This week, other companies such as Marks & Spencer or BT have confirmed the trend with new announcements. Even Gazprom, Russia's energy giant, is going to join the carbon conscious club soon.

As concerns Marks & Spencer, the company has announced an investment of £200 m (€304 m) aimed at turning the company carbon neutral in the next five years. The plan includes sourcing its food from the UK and Ireland in order to reduce air freight, while food brought into the UK by plane will be labelled "lown". Also, the firm will start using renewable energy and cutting down its energy bill.

Likewise, UK telecoms group BT is going to contribute to the emission reduction game by giving customers the option of receiving bills by email. The company has so far instructed 600,000 internet customers that they will only be sent paper bills if they 'opt in'. Additionally, those customers who agree to paper-free billing and pay by direct debit or a monthly payment plan are given a 25p discount on monthly line rental.

Last, but not least, many got surprised when Gazprom, one of the world's largest energy groups, announced this week that it would start investing in projects to reduce industrial emissions of CO2, in line with Europe's goals under the Kyoto Protocol. The firm will do so by means of a carbon trading venture with Dresdner Kleinwort, the investment banking arm of Germany's Dresdner Bank. "There is huge potential in Russia for realising opportunities under the Kyoto Protocol," Gazprombank Deputy Chief Executive Alexei Obozintsev said this week. Now the only thing that we need to see is the company producting renewable energy. Wait a minute, aren't we talking about gas-awash Russia? Maybe they will start if Moscow remains snow-free for a few more weeks...