Do You Know Your Carbon Footprint?

Greenhouse Gases and Carbon Footprint

All of your daily activities emit greenhouse gases. Your food, your transportation, the heating of your house, taking a shower, watching tv, buying clothes, every single one of your lifestyle choices contributes to the production of these gases, most commonly expressed in kilos of carbon, or CO2. A.k.a. your carbon footprint.

CO2 Emission

In floriculture, we also emit CO2. Of course, you first think about the heating of greenhouses, using electricity, but it goes much further than that. Also the wrapping materials, like plastic foils, the plastic pots for your plants, and even the soil we use, leave a CO2 footprint. What do you think of the rubber band that is wrapped around your bunch of roses? This CO2 is absorbed in the atmosphere and causes an increase in the temperature on Earth, also known as “global warming”, a big threat to all life on the planet.

It Starts with Knowing How Much We Emit

The first step in the fight against global warming is knowing how much CO2 you emit. And your business emits. Then take action where it's most effective to reduce your carbon footprint as much as possible. Calculating a footprint quantifies sustainability. It provides insight into how sustainable your company and your products are and it is the starting point for making your entire organization, processes, and products more sustainable. When the calculation is complete you know the total environmental impact of your company, of all processes and of all products. The structure of the footprint is also visible. How much does the choice of specific packaging contribute to your environmental impact? And how do the CO2 emissions from heating the greenhouse actually relate to the CO2 emissions from the transport of your products?

Insights Lead to Action

The insights that result from the calculation are used to reduce the environmental impact of your company and your products as quickly and effectively as possible. These savings can certainly also result in lower costs. By repeating the footprint calculation every year, it is possible to check how well the measures work.

Sell your Sustainable Story

There is an increasing demand for sustainably produced products, both by consumers and business-to-business relations. In addition, there is a growing need amongst retailers, governments, consumers and environmental organizations for proof that a company works sustainably. How do you let your customers and other stakeholders know that your company is making a successful effort in the area of sustainability? And how do you ensure that your message gets across the right way? Those are important questions to answer, and by doing so your sustainable story can help you better sell your products and services. There is an increasing need for a transparent, honest and authentic story. No polished talk to attract customers, ratings or donors. But a fair picture of what you do as a company to become more sustainable. And so becoming more attractive to customers. A true win-win. For you and your business, and for the environment.