A leader in carbon offsetting in the South African citrus sector is set to step up its calculations to counteract more of its processes.
Lona Trading PTY Ltd claimed to be one of the first South African exporters to become carbon neutral voluntarily through a tree-planting programme run by Food & Trees for Africa, back in 2006.
The scheme offsets the carbon created at its three sites.
A total of 88 trees were planted in the first year, from 2006-07, in two schools in the Limpopo province.
The firm, which supplies Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer in the UK, now intends to expand its offsetting scheme by obtaining the calculations for offsetting the carbon used on its farms and in the transport link to the port.
Derek Sutton, marketing director, told FPJ: “The scheme works through urban reforestation, by trying to green up areas where there was not much green before, in anywhere from schools to car parks and shopping centres.
“We got involved with Food & Trees for Africa because we wanted to recognise, as an exporter, the impact made on the environment.
“There is a drive in the UK in particular to be more aware of the affects of global warming, and UK consumers want to see changes.”
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