bakergoodchild Achieves Carbon Neutral Status – What it Means and Why it Matters

Originally featured on bakergoodchild.co.uk

At bakergoodchild, sustainability is a lot more than a buzzword – it’s a business commitment. We’re proud to announce that as of April 2025, bakergoodchild is a Certified Carbon Neutral Business, having offset 237.37 tonnes of CO₂e emissions through verified global projects under the Woodland Fund™ portfolio, and meeting the demanding standards of Carbon Neutral Britain Certification™.

This achievement isn’t just a milestone for us – it’s a strategic advantage for our clients, a statement of environmental leadership in the direct mail sector, and a strong signal that we’re ready for the future. 

What Does Carbon Neutral Mean?

Basically, being carbon neutral means we’ve taken steps to measure, reduce, and offset the greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) our organisation generates. This includes:

• Scope 1 emissions: Direct emissions from sources we own or control (like vehicles or fuel combustion)
• Scope 2 emissions: Indirect emissions from purchased electricity and heating
• Scope 3 emissions: Other indirect emissions from the wider value chain (such as supply chain activity and business travel)

To achieve this, we partnered with Carbon Neutral Britain to calculate our total emissions from January 1 to December 31, 2024. Then, we offset these through verified, global carbon offsetting projects, making us officially carbon neutral for that period.

Carbon Neutral vs. Net Zero – What’s the Difference?

You may have heard that the UK has a legally binding target to reach net zero by 2050. Since this is often confused with carbon neutrality, here’s what they really mean:

• Carbon Neutral: This means offsetting or balancing your emitted carbon with an equivalent amount absorbed or removed through carbon credits or similar schemes. It doesn’t necessarily require reducing emissions to zero.
• Net Zero: A more ambitious target that involves cutting emissions as close to zero as possible, and only offsetting what can’t be eliminated.

So, carbon neutrality is an essential stepping stone to net zero, and it’s where real, measurable progress begins.

Why We Did it And What it Took to Become Carbon Neutral

bakergoodchild’s shift toward carbon neutrality was driven by a combination of environmental responsibility, innovation, and alignment with client values:

1. Environmental Responsibility

We’ve always believed in doing things the right way. From introducing 100% compostable poly-wrap made from potato starch to using carbon-balanced paper, we’re constantly finding new ways to reduce our footprint. Carbon neutrality is the next step in this journey, and we’re not stopping here.

2. Industry Leadership

As a forward-thinking direct mail business, we see sustainability as a competitive edge. We’ve prioritised investing in cutting-edge automation and integration technologies, which allow us to streamline workflows, reduce material waste, and improve operational efficiency. This minimises manual processes, reduces human error, and cuts unnecessary resource use, all while delivering faster, more personalised campaigns.

Add to that our move toward digital printing over traditional lithography, which consumes less energy and produces less waste, and it’s clear: we’re setting new standards in how sustainable direct mail can be done at scale. These innovations don’t just benefit the environment; they ensure our clients get a future-proofed, efficient, and environmentally responsible partner.

3. Client Expectations

Our clients care about the planet, and so do we. Today, environmental values are more than preferences; they’re expectations, especially when considering the UK’s climate targets. By becoming carbon neutral, we help our clients meet their own sustainability and CSR goals while also reinforcing their values to end-customers.

How Our Carbon-Neutral Status Helps Our Clients

Achieving carbon neutrality isn’t just good for the planet – it’s good for your business too. Here’s how:

1. Corporate Social Responsibility: You can align with a certified carbon-neutral partner to strengthen your own CSR strategy and branding.
2. Appealing to Eco-Conscious Consumers: Sustainability matters to buyers. Working with bakergoodchild means aligning with a brand that reflects your customers’ values.
3. Financial Efficiency: Many of the changes we’ve made, from reducing waste to increasing energy efficiency, help us cut costs. These savings get passed back to you, which is especially valuable in this competitive, cost-conscious market.
4. Future-Proofing: Regulations around environmental impact are tightening. Partnering with a business that’s already ahead of the curve helps you adapt faster and mitigate future risk.
5. Competitive Advantage: Clients increasingly ask suppliers about sustainability credentials. By choosing bakergoodchild, you can confidently say you’re working with a carbon-neutral, forward-looking supplier.

Our Journey with Carbon Neutral Britain

Becoming certified wasn’t just a box-ticking exercise. It required a comprehensive audit of our emissions and a clear plan to offset them. Thankfully, Carbon Neutral Britain made the process smooth and seamless, handling the technical side while we focused on what we do best – delivering exceptional direct mail services.

Through this partnership, we offset 237.37 tonnes of CO₂e emissions, a significant achievement that reflects our operational footprint and our commitment to responsible business.

Looking Ahead to Sustainability as the Standard

Carbon neutrality is not our end goal. It’s a milestone on a larger journey of environmental and social responsibility. As the environmental landscape evolves, so will our approach, as we continue to invest in low-impact materials, embrace eco-friendly technology, and collaborate with clients who share our values.

Sustainability and success go hand in hand, and together, we can shift direct marketing to a cleaner, greener future. Get in touch with our team at 0800 612 1972 to discuss how our carbon-neutral status can support your sustainability goals or to find out more about our end-to-end direct mail services.