This New Employee Benefit can Help Move the Climate Change Needle

It’s not often that I find a product offering that makes me smile. But this one is so timely and – after you hear it – so obvious, I thought to myself – of course, why didn’t I think of that?

The company is Scope Zero and the product is a Carbon Savings Account or CSA.

The company positions it as a financial wellness benefit for employees. The goal is to create an incentive to lower their carbon footprint by putting money away to purchase energy savings appliances, lighting, or even an EV.

It works much like a Health Savings Account. Employees make contributions which a company can (should) provide some level of matching. That’s the financial benefit to the employee. The company benefits by improving its ESG rating and scope 3 score. It also has the potential to assist in hiring by offering an environmental substantive benefit to new and existing employees.

The Scope Zero platform handles all associated financial logistics, but as important, it also tracks employee purchases and calculates the emissions reductions to provide employers a data-driven (i.e. concrete, not smoke and mirrors) record of its environmental efforts.

There are limits to eligible items and where they can be purchased, but this is a minor drawback that will undoubtedly diminish over time. Given the cost of employee benefits these days, and the focus that the younger employee base has on the environment, this can be a cost-effective win-win for all involved.

If you want more details on CSAs check out the company’s website www.scope-zero.com