In 2004 the BBC reported that on average consumers were willing to pay a premium of around 30% for ethically labelled products, however in Australia there are many examples of products where this premium is even higher. The examples of free-range eggs or organic produce are excellent illustrations of this effect, with consumers paying often paying a premium of several times the unlabelled product’s price.

For boutique or ‘high end’ products, certifying production and distribution as Carbon Neutral serves to reinforce the consumer’s perception of the product having higher production standards.

More generally, consumers perceive firms that are Carbon Neutral as being ethical and committed to the environment, and for many consumers this status also represents a commitment to a high standard of corporate citizenship associated with established, high quality brands.

(This section is excerpted from “Green Business: How to use Carbon Neutral Status to Increase Market Share, Add Value to Products or Services (and Win More Government Tenders)” ).