A new initiative has been launched to make carbon compensation more accessible and affordable for fresh produce suppliers.
Founder Stephan Schneider said the CO₂Correct scheme takes the strain out of the complex and expensive Life Cycle Analysis calculations that often hampers company’s efforts to address their carbon footprint.
“The process is quite simple. Organisations that are looking to do something about their carbon footprint can become a member of CO₂Correct,” he explained.
“The new member fills in a short excel with some information on the products that they would like to compensate. CO₂Correct will calculate your carbon compensation within days and also quote you a compensation price per kilogram.”
The fruit or vegetable can then be sold as carbon compensated under the CO₂Correct label or a private label. Each quarter sales figures are shared with CO₂Correct and the company will be sent an invoice for carbon correcting its environmental impact.
“The costs for compensation are just a few cents per kilogram depending on the country of origin and the final destination,” Schneider said.
Global warming has increasingly affected the fruit and vegetable industry over the years. Drought and excessive rainfall are becoming more common events and this needs to be turned around.
At the same time more and more retailers are looking to improve the sustainability of the sector by demanding suppliers to act now. Reduction of our carbon footprint is an important step to realise this. Everything that impacts the environment like the use of any type of the earth resources can be related to a certain CO₂impact. This makes CO₂compensation a very effective step into a more sustainable future.
“Joining the CO₂Correct network brings you into contact with organisations that are all looking to reduce their carbon footprint,” Schneider said.
“Within the network, members will be supported to develop a sustainable strategy and members will share knowledge that can benefit others into reducing the environmental impact.”
Starting an initiative like this requires complete transparency according to Schneider. “I want CO₂Correct to be an open organisation which offers complete transparency on the revenues, expenses and the investments made into additional climate reduction projects.
“For this we are working closely with partners in regards to reduction projects, Life Cycle Analysis and of course a good financial accountant that will check and approve our annual report. All will be publicised on our website.
“Carbon correction will take place by supporting climate reduction projects from our partner FairClimateFund. These climate projects reduce CO₂emissions and deforestation and improve the living conditions for people in developing countries.”
The projects are Fairtrade certified and generate Gold Standard/Fairtrade Carbon Credits.
