Carbon Offsetting FAQs

Carbon offsetting is a tool to compensate for the greenhouse gases (GHG) produced from your energy use (your carbon footprint).

This is done through the purchase of certified carbon offsets which are used to invest in projects that give an equivalent reduction of emissions elsewhere in the UK and around the globe.

You don’t need to make any changes to your existing infrastructure to use carbon offset fuels; so long as your engines/generators/burners can use the standard fuel, they can use carbon offset fuels.

This is because there is no difference to the fuel itself and the little extra you pay goes towards funding carbon-reducing initiatives across the world, effectively counteracting the carbon released from using the fuel.

When you order your fuel, be it red diesel, white diesel, kerosene or heating oil, you can pay a little extra to offset the carbon emissions.
The money raised from your offsets is then used to fund projects around the world that work to reduce or eliminate carbon emissions, compensating for those created by the use of your fuel. This could be through supporting wind or solar farm projects that replace coal-fired power plants, creating and harnessing biogas released by landfill or protecting vulnerable species and their habitats through reforestation.

Greenhouse gases (or GHGs) are naturally occurring elements and manmade gases that humans produce from everyday activity such as industrial production, transport and heating.
Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and several other gases are produced naturally, whilst humans have contributed perfluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons and sulphides. In high concentrations these gases trap heat from the sun within the earth’s atmosphere, increasing average global temperatures which has led to climate change.

A carbon footprint is the total direct and indirect CO2 emissions created by the activities of an individual or organisation.

A carbon dioxide equivalent, often abbreviated to CO2-e or CO2-eq, measures the global warming potential of other greenhouse gas emissions in comparison to carbon dioxide.

Carbon offsets are used to support a range of carbon-reducing projects across the globe, such as:

• Renewable energy sources, e.g. building solar and wind farms to replace coal-fired power plants
• Tree planting, which sequesters carbon in soils and forests and helps to reduce soil erosion
• Energy efficiency, such as insulating buildings to reduce heat loss or switching to more energy-efficient vehicles

All of Speedy Fuels’ carbon offsets are purchased through CHOOOSE, who are internationally-recognised experts in the sourcing and supply of accredited carbon offsets that support verified projects. You can see some examples of the projects they support here.

Yes, carbon offsetting is a legitimate and trusted solution to counteract your fuels’ emissions.
All of the offsets you purchase through Speedy Fuels are accredited and verified by CHOOOSE, our carbon offsetting partner, and meet internationally-recognised standards from regulatory bodies including:

• Gold Standard
• CDM (United Nations Climate Change Carbon Mechanism)
• CCBA (The Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance)
• VCS (Verified Carbon Standard)

Whilst carbon offsetting is a cost-effective mechanism to counteract your greenhouse gas emissions, it’s not the silver bullet solution to climate change in the long term.

As a society we must work to cut our emissions at their source and reach true carbon neutrality, which can be achieved through the adoption of new technology and energy sources such as HVO, which cuts up to 90% of GHGs.

Speedy Fuels is committed to going beyond our PAS 2060:2014 carbon neutral status to reach net zero emissions. You can find out how we’re doing that – and how you can reach that goal too – by reading our commitment to the environment.  

Carbon offsets are calculated by using the CO2 equivalent (CO2e) conversion factor, taking into account the type of fuel and the amount being offset.
All liquid fuels have a CO2e conversion factor, so whilst offsets are measured and calculated in terms of CO2, the carbon offset calculation does also includes the global warming impact of all GHG associated with the fuel.

Yes, Speedy Fuels’ carbon offsets are VCS (Verified Carbon Standard) accredited and meet the offsetting requirements of the PAS 2060 guidance on carbon neutrality.
We will always provide full transparency on our carbon neutrality claims.

Speedy Fuels’ offsets are verified by international standards and regulatory bodies including:

• Gold Standard
• CDM (United Nations Climate Change Carbon Mechanism)
• CCBA (The Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance)
• VCS (Verified Carbon Standard)

Offsetting your fuel is an easy, cost-effective and non-disruptive way for you to counteract the emissions released by your fuel use.

No, the fuel you buy remains unchanged. Instead, you will purchase offsets alongside your fuel – also known as carbon credits – which fund projects that compensate for the environmental impact of the fuel.

The cost to offset your fuel depends on the type of fuel you need and the amount you’re looking to offset. Speak to a member of our team today by calling 0330 123 3773.

No, you won’t be able to select an individual project that your offsets will support.
However, as we only work with trusted and verified offsetting partners you can rest assured that your contributions will have a positive impact on global carbon levels and provide real benefits for communities and wildlife across the world.

As part of the Crown Group, all of Speedy Fuels’ emissions are offset – but that’s not all.

We began to offset our delivery mileage in 2013, and in 2021 we transitioned our entire roadgoing fleet to HVO which cuts up to 90% of CO2. We have continued to offset the remaining emissions and those of the rest of our operations, and in 2022 we became certified carbon neutral!

To be carbon neutral, a person, business or organisation counteracts any remaining emissions that cannot be reduced or avoided so that there is no net increase in carbon after any offsetting is taken into account.

Being net zero carbon means that a person, business or organisation adds no greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere. Unlike carbon neutral, this means reducing emissions as close to zero as possible, then implementing methods of absorbing carbon dioxide and other pollutants from the atmosphere.