Enabel takes responsibility for the climate impact of its flights
With the help of CO2logic, Enabel offsets its climate impact, while in the process improving the livelihoods of families in Uganda and further contributing to sustainable development.
Enabel, the Belgian development agency, has been working hard on sustainable development all around the globe. But in the process of doing so, one should not forget to look at the climate impact they are making one self.
A lot of effort has been done to lower the agency’s carbon footprint but some CO2 emissions could not be avoided. For managing Enabel’s projects abroad, taking flights was inevitable. Those flights are responsible for emitting greenhouse gasses we rather not have into our atmosphere. Because in the long term we will all suffer the consequences of this.
That is why Enabel teamed up with CO2logic to tackle this problem, and to come with a solution for its impact. CO2logic is an environmental agency that manages certified CO2 offsetting projects in developing countries. The greenhouse gasses we emit here are offset by projects there that keep CO2 out of the atmosphere. This results in Enabel being carbon neutral on its flights, allowing them to be more sustainable in their actions.
The project ‘saving trees’ that is supported by Enabel, invests in improved cookstoves for families in Uganda. In Uganda most of the population relies on wood to cook daily meals, this practice however puts a very high pressure on the forest. The ‘saving trees’ project brings these improved cookstoves to rural communities in Uganda. These cookstoves lower the necessity of wood by 50%, hence lowering the pressure on trees as a fuel source. This keeps the forests in Uganda healthy and keeps the carbon dioxide out of the air. Each improved cookstoves avoids 1.4 tonnes CO2 from being emitted per year.
Supporting climate projects however does more than just lowering greenhouse gasses. With these cookstoves trees don’t have to be cut down, but it doesn’t end there; also the livelihoods of the local people are greatly enhanced. The cookstoves emit less household air pollution that would otherwise have caused respiratory illnesses. Also financially it can make a huge impact on families that now have to spend less budget on charcoal or firewood. The whole supply chain of the cookstove is located in Uganda, providing jobs to local people keeping them out of poverty.
Enabel and CO2logic have been partners since 2014.
Door and windows manufacturer Engls NV renews CO2 Neutral label once again this year
For the 5th year in a row, door and window manufacturer Engels has renewed its CO2 Neutral® label, guaranteeing that the company has its carbon emissions calculated and makes efforts to reduce its climate impact. The remaining CO2 emissions, estimated at 281 tonnes CO2e, is offset by Engels NV by supporting the Saving Trees climate project.
Saving Trees is a Gold Standard certified climate project that produces ecological and efficient cookstoves which not only reduce CO2 emissions and deforestations, but also contribute to other UN Sustainable Development Goals such as improved health and employment for the local population. “In addition to our local efforts, we bear a global responsibility in a global economy. Offsetting our remaining CO2 emissions and climate impact is our responsibility. We do not want to pass this down to society or future generations,” says Didier Engels, CEO of Engels Ramen & Deuren.
Reducing Le Pain Quotidien’s Carbon Footprint Across New York
The mission of Le Pain Quotidien is to serve fresh, wholesome food with minimal impact on the environment in every way possible. And that’s a promise they intend to keep: the UK locations of the international chain were certified carbon neutral in 2017.
Context: USA (New York), 2013-present
Challenge: To help Le Pain Quotidien pursue its commitments to sustainability by rendering its New York-based restaurants carbon neutral.
Partnership: Le Pain Quotidien is an all-day restaurant chain that is considered an energy-intensive business. CO2logic has helped identify its major sources of energy consumption and leakages. By adopting the various quick-win solutions we proposed, Le Pain Quotidien was able to significantly reduce its carbon footprint and energy bill within the first year of improvements. The chain is emerging as a leader in inspiring both customers and suppliers, on how to reduce their carbon footprint.
Results: Most of the installed energy-saving solutions have a payback time of 4 years or less, with a potential net gain of several $100,000 in the years to come. By simply switching to LED lighting, the chain has already reduced by 20% its carbon footprint per restaurant. Other measures have impacted the chain’s internal design, management and food offerings, while further reducing hundreds of tons of CO₂. Through CO2logic’s carbon offsetting projects, Le Pain Quotidien has simultaneously helped over 2,000 African families and reduced the rest of its carbon footprint. By 2020, the chain will have rendered its global network carbon neutral.
Sector: Services
It’s a first: The Sequoia organic store chain becomes the first 100% carbon neutral retail food chain
The carbon neutrality of Sequoia is self-evident for the pioneer of organic foods, and an unprecedented initiative in its sector. The choice of concrete investments in agroforestry projects full of meaning in Belgium and abroad.
As of next year, the Sequoia organic store chain will be a carbon neutral company. As of 2020, all 10 current stores, as well as the registered office in Uccle, will no longer leave any CO2 footprint, without any corrective measure to reach carbon neutrality, i.e. a balance between generated CO2 emissions and the reduced CO2 emissions locally and globally. This will make Sequoia the first retail food chain to reach this ambitious objective.
“To assume fully our DNA as an organic pioneer for more than 30 years, it made sense for us to take fully our responsibility for the protection of the climate. And given the climate emergency with which we are faced, it was important for us to act at once,” explains Nicolas Dhaene, Managing Director of Sequoia.
To reach CO2 neutrality rapidly and efficiently, Sequoia undertakes to offset all its CO2 emissions, whether from buildings (operation of its stores: lighting, refrigeration, heating, air conditioning, etc), the transport of goods to the stores (deliveries by supplies), as well as consumables (packaging, etc.) or the home-to-work commute of its employees.
The Skateroom challenges the status quo of brand and corporate responsibility, and turns consumers into active contributors in socially engaged projects.
As a young certified B Corporation, The Skateroom project unites art buyers, artists, galleries, museums, foundations, retailers, and non-profits around the world in a new economic model — « Art for Social Impact ».
Eating Point goes beyond a traditional catering service: to limit its impact it provides menus with local and seasonal foods up to 75%, uses renewable and biodegradable plates and offers recyclable lunchboxes. Through supporting the Gold Standard certified climate project, they succeed in offsetting their remaining emissions and becoming a carbon-neutral catering service.
