Environmental Certification

Offsetting Carbon Emissions from Strateco Ltd's Activities

Background

The UK government has committed to cutting down greenhouse gases and set a national goal to achieve a 20% reduction in CO2 by 2010 (based on 1990 levels), a principal Strateco supports in its policies and activities.

Strateco's Environmental Policy commits the organization to encouraging energy efficiency in all areas of business including transport, property and energy consumption. Furthermore it aims to actively reduce the volume of waste generated by the promotion of waste minimisation, recycling and re-use. The company has been measuring its environmental impacts including the carbon emissions from its transport activities, energy usage and waste production.

Strateco's environmental policy also pledges to commit an increasing and meaningful percentage of gross profit year on year to support environmental initiatives. As such, it has been agreed by top management that the organization should offset its carbon emissions by committing to a carbon offset programme which will invest in carbon neutral pursuits.

Measurement of CO2 Emissions from April 2004 to March 2006

Utilising DEFRA's Fuel Conversion Factors for mileage driven on behalf of the company and public transport used, Strateco was able to determine the CO2 emissions generated from these activities.

The economics of air travel allow easier access to this mode of transport for business. Consequently it is creating exponential growth in greenhouse gas emissions. Climate Care is a Trust set up to offset the CO2 that businesses' and individuals' activities release, by funding projects which avoid, reduce or absorb greenhouse gases through renewable energy (cutting out fossil fuels), energy efficiency and forest restoration (absorbing and storing CO2). The projects aim to balance out the CO2 emissions by ensuring that an equivalent amount of CO2 emissions are taken out of the atmosphere elsewhere, making the activity 'climate neutral'.

Climate Care's online calculator (1) determines the CO2 emissions released by air travel through data inputting of departure and destination airports. Using this tool, Strateco calculated its CO2 emissions created from its business air travel.

Strateco used DEFRA's Guidelines for Reporting on Greenhouse Gas Emissions to calculate its CO2 emissions from energy usage.

Due to Strateco's recycling and reuse policies, the waste generated by Strateco is negligible. Nevertheless the average weekly waste generated by the office was determined. Landfill gas consists of 50-60% methane and 35-40% carbon dioxide and the C Level online calculator (2) was used to determine the annual CO2 equivalent (including methane) of Strateco's generated waste. It should be noted that most carbon offset programmes do not include waste generation in their offset calculations however Strateco felt it prudent to include as much impact relating activities as practically possible.

Financial Contributions to Offset Emissions

Having calculated Strateco's total environmental impact, in terms of CO2 emissions, the company purchases the appropriate offsets through Climate Care in order to obtain climate neutral status. (2005-2006)

The process of assessing, measuring and calculating impacts and financial liabilities will need to continue and develop. This will tie in with the company's environmental management systems to minimise impacts and continually develop to reduce the business's impacts upon the environment.

(1) Climate Care Website
(2) Carbon Footprint Calculator

Download Strateco's Climate Neutral Summary (PDF)

Strateco's Climate Care certification

Certificate 1 - PDF
Certificate 2 - PDF