Get discounts on branded goods by slashing carbon footprint

Cutting back on travelling, using renewable bio-fuels, thinking twice before firing up that laptop are among activities that can not just contribute to greening the planet but could get you also hefty discounts on trendy apparel and other major branded goods.

Following international trends, stores in India are waking up to 'carbon nuetral' stores in which customers are able to redeem "credits" accumulated through the purchase of environment friendly products for discounts. In a new initiative, leading footwear and apparell brand Woodland is all set to go "carbon neutral" in 80 of its stores in Delhi-NCR and Karnataka.

Being carbon neutral means having a net zero carbon footprint, or achieving net zero carbon emissions by balancing a measured amount of carbon released with an equivalent amount offset, or buying enough carbon credits (tradable certificate or permit representing the right to emit 1 tonne of CO2) to make up the difference.

Companies can go carbon neutral by reducing CO2 emissions associated with transportation, energy production and industrial processes. "We want all our stores to be carbon neutral retail chain by 2015, by adopting more environment-friendly measures including planting of saplings all over the country. 2-3% of our profits (around Rs 10 crores) is earmarked for such eco-friendly initiatives every year," says Harkirat Singh, MD, Woodland Worldwide.

The retail chain will also spread awareness among its customers and encourage them to exchange their carbon credits with discounts upto 15-20% on Woodland products.