Members of the Mastic Asphalt Council will pay 1% levy on material costs to raise money for low energy projects

The Mastic Asphalt Council has announced it will offset all carbon emissions produced by its industry.

Its contractors, manufacturers and distributors will pay a 1% levy on the cost of materials to offsetting organisation co2balance, who will put the money into projects designed to reduce energy use.

carbon offset woodland

These include providing energy efficient bulbs in Kenya, replacing kerosene lamps in East Africa with solar powered lanterns and supporting forestation projects in the UK.

Research by co2balance showed Mastic Asphalt Council (MAC) members need to offset 165kg of carbon dioxide per tonne of mastic asphalt.

MAC director John Blowers said: 鈥淲hile individual companies may have decided to take this route, this is a first for an entire industry. I am proud that we have set the standard which will allow our customers to use a product with no discernable carbon footprint.鈥�

The initiative, named Carbon 100, was launched at the Barbican centre last Friday with a speech by polar explorer Jim McNeill.

MAC represents 100 member companies.

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