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ONE Group Goes Carbon Neutral
In today’s world, it is easy to forget that we are as much a part of the environment and as dependent on it as all other living creatures. We now know that our activities haves impacted upon our world in ways that are proving to be detrimental. Pesticide pollution, deforestation and global warming are among the worlds largest threats. At ONE Group we understand that knowledge can only be considered power, when acted upon.
For instance, we now know that approximately 30% of global warming can be traced back to agriculture, mainly through emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (NO), and that organic agriculture
greatly reduces that effect whilst also eliminating the use of synthetic pesticides, that is contributing to the health of people and simultaneously the environment.
In order to fulfil our vision, we announced the following two initiatives at our inaugural conference.
As of August 2006 our production facilities carbon emissions have been neutralised by paying for renewable energy such as wind and solar to be fed into the grid to replace the fossil fuel energy we once used. This has been achieved through the accredited green power company Climate Friendly. www.climatefriendly.com.au
Additionally, as we deliver products all around the world, we engaged the team at a non profit organization Green Fleet to calculate our carbon emissions. It has been determined that a current sales volume we emit over 118 tons of CO2 annually. We have further agreed to plant sufficient native trees to offset these carbon emissions and revisit our volume on a quarterly basis, planting an adequate amount of trees to keep us carbon neutral.
Like all things in nature, this has a multiplying effect. On the one hand we become carbon neutral whilst also tackling the problem of salinity, improving water quality and providing essential habitat for many species.
We express our sincere gratitude to each and everyone one of you and all our staff for without this united front, such visions are dreams and would not materialise.
From the ONE Group Directors:
More on the Cimate Neutral Program
ONE Group Head Office entered the climate neutral program in October 2006 with company Climate Friendly. For all energy used at Head Office and in transporting all our products around the world, we have committed equivalent funds to become carbon neutral and support sustainable energy programs. The Climate Neutral group are involved in a number of important programs:-
On your behalf, climate friendly funds Australian & International renewable energy projects – building a clean energy industry today to protect our future. We keep abreast of the latest climate friendly technologies and invest your money wherever in the world it can be put to best use. Our international links ensure that your carbon offset dollars have a maximum impact on
the global challenge of arresting climate change.
We only fund genuine sustainable energy projects with undisputed climate benefits that build a long term solution to climate change. These include: Wind / solar electric (PV) / solar thermal, micro hydro (low-impact)/ geothermal / ecologically sound biomass; energy crops; forest and agricultural waste and agro-processing residues / ecologically sound biogas.
Check out their website at www.climatefriendly.com and see if your household can become climate neutral. .
More on ONE Group becoming Carbon Neutral
Sandra is a ONE Group representative and Team Organic member and works as a research project officer in the field of climate change. She explains what it all means here:
What does it mean to be 'carbon neutral'?
Every manufacturing process uses energy that leads to greenhouse gases being emitted into the atmosphere. The main greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide which is released through burning fossil fuels such as coal to produce electricity and using petroleum to transport goods. ONE Group compensates for its use of both these fossil fuels by a number of projects including planting trees. Young trees need carbon dioxide to grow and so plantations of young trees become 'carbon sinks'.Through working out how much carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere by the company and matching this with the amount of carbon dioxide that trees use to grow the company aims to become 'carbon neutral'. Planting trees also reduces dryland salinity as the trees use water that would otherwise rise to the surface, leaving behind dissolved salts in the soil when the water evaporates.
Why is greenhouse gas accumulation in the atmosphere so bad?
Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide accumulate in the atmoshpere and form a blanket which keeps in heat, hence leading to global warming. More heat in the atmosphere will eventually lead to animal extinctions as habitats change and more severe weather events such as droughts and cyclones (the more heat, the more the evaporation, the heavier the rain etc).
What is a 'green fleet'?
The term 'green fleet' means that the greenhouse gas emissions of a company's cars are being offset by practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, whether it be by planting trees, using solar energy for electricity, using battery operated cars etc. Many local government authorities throughout the world have adopted the 'green fleet' principle. In fact it is mainly through local initiatives in both Australia and the United States that global warming is being addressed as both countries have failed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol which commits countries to limit their greenhouse gas emissions. Europe is streaks ahead of both Australia and the US in addressing climate change issues!
Carbon Offsets - It's not just cars – from GreenFleet
Over the last year more and more organisations have approached us wanting to offset different aspects of their business. While much support is still associated with company fleets, use of online calculator (www.greenfleet.com.au) to offset air travel, office emissions, conferences and events is becoming more and more popular. Queensland-based ONE Group has recently joined us to offset the greenhouse gas emissions generated freighting their certified organic skincare range around the world. The group was founded on a passion for the health of people and the planet and see their partnership with Greenfleet as a logical step in working towards ecologically sustainable world.
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