Use of the Mark in Advertising
The Mark may be used in product advertising or promotion or product literature provided that the advertising or literature does not represent or imply that any non-certified aspects of the company's activities have been certified. The Climate Neutral Mark should be placed so that it clearly relates only to the products/enterprises that have been certified.
There are two categories of use for the Climate Neutral Mark:
Primary Use: by clients seeking to promote their certified Climate Neutral products/services or enterprises.
Secondary Use: by intermediaries and/or customers selling/purchasing certified Climate Neutral products or services.
Primary users are responsible for communicating with these users that the Mark can only be used in association with the Climate Neutral certified Product and that the verbatim language should be used in promoting the Mark. This clause does not apply to individual consumers, presumably accessed through retail channels. These communication materials should make it clear that Secondary Users need to contact the Primary User or the Climate Neutral Network if they wish to make any departures from this "verbatim" language in any of their communications or promotional activities regarding the Climate Neutral Mark.
In all these instances, the Mark needs to reference closely the particular product, service of enterprise for which certification has been established.
References to Non-certified Participation in the Network
Companies still exploring how to become Climate Neutral may only refer to themselves as "participants" in the Climate Neutral Network. The term "Climate Neutral Product", "Climate Neutral Enterprise" and "Climate Neutral Service" are reserved for the exclusive use of those clients which have received written certifications from the Climate Neutral Network.
Companies seeking certification for part of their enterprise whose intentions are to take all of their operations Climate Neutral within a year or two may refer to specific sites as operating on a Climate Neutral basis provided that this is stated alongside their public commitment to become a Climate Neutral enterprise within a specific time period.
Language for Describing Climate Neutral Program: Advance Notice and Use of Mark and Climate Neutral Name
Language from the Climate Neutral Network's current brochure may be reproduced to help describe the Climate Neutral program in companiesâ product and other literature/communications. Climate Neutral Network must review any press release or product marketing materials that depart from this pre-approved language for describing Climate Neutral Network before they are issued in order to ensure that any potential public misunderstandings are avoided. We will make this as quick a turnaround as possible but need to confirm that the program is accurately portrayed.
Violators of these Use Guidelines can lose their eligibility to use the Climate Neutral Mark upon action by the board for a period of up to 18 months. Repeat violators may loose the right to apply for Climate Neutral certification permanently and be liable for damages incurred by Climate Neutral Network as a result of such misuse.
Range of Climate Neutral Claims
Clients may only refer to the Climate Neutral Mark in efforts to establish the credibility of their products/services/enterprises for purposes of achieving Climate Neutrality only. Climate Neutral certification shall not be construed to create or imply performance with respect to any other climate-related systems, unless approved in writing by the Network.
Public Confidence
The Climate Neutral Network and its clients agree that maintaining public confidence in the credibility of the Climate Neutral Mark, Climate Neutral certified products/enterprises, the Climate Neutral Network and its participants is an important shared objective. Actions undertaken will help promote and increase this public confidence and the integrity of the Mark.
