At the beginning of this year, we would like to share with you our carbon offset plan!
As you know, Labgroup is taking steps to reduce its CO₂ emissions, but like all companies we know that some parts can not be totally eliminated. That is why management has chosen to act now to achieve carbon neutrality in another way: through carbon offsetting.
In this context, we are working with the NGO Graine de Vie Luxembourg.
« Graine de Vie is an NGO whose goal is to offset the ecological footprint of citizens and companies through tree plantations in developing countries. The massive and varied planting of trees in deforested areas preserves the soil and water tables and allows many animal and plant species to survive. The plantations are carried out with the support of local citizens, in an agroforestry concept, contributing to a sustainable additional income for these citizens. »
After working together internally, we were able to calculate our carbon emissions and thus draw up a compensation plan for the next fifteen years. The aim is to become carbon neutral as soon as possible. Here is the plan:
- Cumulated CO₂ emissions (in Kg) to offset: Data collected through the french method “Bilan Carbone”©. We estimate that we emit around 1.5 million kg of CO₂ per year. These figures are expected to reduce year on year through our emissions reduction strategy, average figures were used to calculate this offset estimation.
- Trees purchased per year: We plan to purchase 60,000 trees per year over 7 years. That is a total of 420,000 trees planted over time.
- CO₂ emissions (in Kg) offset during the year: 5kg of CO₂ is offset per tree, per year (over a 20-year period). Since 2021 the land is being prepared for the plantation of the trees in 2022.
- Cumulated CO₂ emissions offset since 2021: We subtract the number of kilograms of CO₂ emitted from 2021 cumulatively with the number of kilograms of CO₂ offset during the current year.
The calculations are based on estimates both for carbon emissions and for tree compensation and can not be considered as precise values. An annual follow-up is carried out with the associations and our supplier for carbon footprint calculation.
This means that, for an annual carbon emissions of 1.5 million kilograms, and starting our project to offset our carbon emissions in 2021, we should be carbon neutral around 2032. It is possible that we will reach our goal before 2032 if our strategy to reduce carbon emissions is effective, however, it is also possible that it will take longer than expected: in the event of bad weather or damage or dead trees.
Grain de Vie project
We have chosen to plant our 420,000 trees in Madagascar, in the region of Diana located in the north of the island.
In this region, we are replanting the mangroves. The mangrove trees are not only excellent carbon storage support, they also offer protection against the frequent cyclones in the region, and constitute a shelter for marine fauna, favouring the proliferation of fish.
It is not only the biodiversity that is increased, but it is also an additional source of food for the inhabitants and a source of income through the trade of these fish.
Of course, trees are planted in agreement with local institutions and locals are hired and paid to plant and maintain the mangroves.
We wanted to share the good news with you: the Labgroup plantation area has been determined and the mangrove trees are being planted as the plantation expands. We will be back soon with news from our plantation!
