Carbon Retirement recognised as one of the UK’s smartest small businesses

Carbon Retirement Ltd has been chosen by a judging panel including Dragon's Den Deborah Meaden and other leading entrepreneurs such as Bebo Founder Michael Birch as a winner of Smarta.com’s inaugural ‘Smarta 100’.

Carbon Retirement was set up 18 months ago from founder Jane Burston’s living room in Putney. The business provides the most effective and ethical means of carbon offsetting – an activity many businesses and individuals get involved in to take responsibility for their unavoidable carbon emissions.

On behalf of its customers, Carbon Retirement buys industrial ‘pollution permits’ and permanently removes them from the carbon trading system. These permits are needed by industrial companies, so by reducing the number available, Carbon Retirement forces industrial companies to reduce their emissions.

The Smarta 100 is the ultimate business accolade, recognizing the UK’s smartest small businesses. Smarta.com has uncovered remarkable companies who have gone the extra mile to differentiate themselves from the market or found clever ways to compete, from their marketing plan to their ethical stance. The result is a fascinating insight into the unique business ideas that are thriving in the current economic climate.

The finalists proved to the judges that they have what it takes to run a successful venture, from spotting a new opportunity to making it a reality.

Wandsworth resident and Carbon Retirement co-founder Jane Burston said,
“Being named one of the top five small ethical businesses in the UK is a huge honour, and we’re really proud to have been recognised for our innovation and creativity too - these are key values for us. We’re really looking forward to being part of the Smarta.com community.”

Deborah Meaden commented, “Discovering great new businesses is a passion of mine as is encouraging businesses to think and work better. The Smarta 100 does both of these things – and celebrates the best of British business at the same time. I was delighted to see ambitious people saving hard and raising finances to turn their ideas into flourishing businesses ”

Smarta.com founder Sháá Wasmund said, “Socially conscious, disruptive businesses that are not afraid to challenge the status quo are being set up in the four corners of the country. I founded Smarta to make sure these enterprises are supported at any stage of development. The results speak for themselves – the Smarta 100 list is a collection of remarkable success stories.”