Over the last year, Mitchells has been taking steps towards reducing and offsetting our carbon emissions. We recently assessed our carbon emissions and are excited to announce that Mitchells has partnered with Ecologi.
Ecologi is an environmental organisation, a platform for real climate action. They facilitate the funding of carbon offset projects and tree planting around the world. Ecologi helps businesses take responsibility and help tackle the biggest threat of our generation.
As a logistics distribution company, it would be easy to say there’s not much we can do to help. However, at Mitchells, we are trying our best to reduce our emissions and offset as much as we can.
We’ve got some big goals for the next couple of years to help tackle this and help solve the problem instead of being part of it!
“It is pointless to assess what carbon we are emitting and to not do anything about it”
Richard Montgomery MD of Mitchells
Our goals for the next four years:
- Offset 25% of our carbon in 2023. That’s 65 tonnes a month and 780 tonnes per year of the 3120 tonnes we produce annually. We will also plant 250 trees a month this year.
- By the end of 2024, we aim to offset 50% of our carbon. Which is 130 tonnes a month and 1560 tonnes per year, and plant 500 trees a month.
- 2025 we plan to offset 75% of our carbon in 2025. That’s 195 tonnes monthly and 2340 tonnes per year, while planting 750 trees a month during 2025.
- 2026 is the year we plan to offset 100% of our carbon. Which is 260 tonnes a month and 3120 tonnes per year. We will also plant 1000 trees a month in 2026.
- By 2027 we aim to be a carbon-positive company.
Fact: The trees we are currently planting are not counted towards our carbon offsetting as they are years away from having any impact!
Ecologi only funds offset projects which meet the highest verification standards, such as Gold Standard or Verified Carbon Standard. These certification programs are trusted programs to ensure the carbon credits you purchase are having the positive effect they claim.
The road to becoming carbon positive
So what does being carbon positive mean?
In order for a company to achieve carbon neutrality, it must measure its total emissions and match the total by offsetting the emissions by buying carbon credits.
So what is carbon offsetting?
Carbon offsetting is a process used to compensate for the carbon emissions you produce from industrial or human activities, such as the running of our HGVs. You are able to finance projects which are designed to make the equivalent reductions in carbon in exchange for carbon credits.
So what is a carbon credit?
A carbon credit is a tradable permit representing the measurable and verifiable emissions reduction of carbon dioxide. The purchaser of a carbon credit can “retire” it to offset their emissions and claim the associated reduction towards their emissions reduction targets.
Projects we’re already working on
You are able to see our progress in achieving these goals through our virtual forest. Our virtual forest shows the amount of carbon we have offset so far, how many trees we’ve planted and what projects we are supporting to help achieve this.
The first project we have helped to fund is generating electricity from landfill gas in Brazil. A huge amount of waste ends up in landfills, where it decomposes and releases methane gas. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and, when released into the atmosphere, has a significant impact on global warming.
The project will collect the methane gas that is produced from the landfill, and build the infrastructure needed to convert the gas into clean energy.
This project will prevent methane from being released into the atmosphere, and allow renewable electricity to be used instead of using fossil-fuel-based power. The project will also provide labour and create income, as qualified operators are needed to maintain and operate the machinery.
Committing to the future
Mitchells is a family business with family values. Our people are the heart and soul of what we do. It’s important to us to leave a positive impact on our world for both our community and our industry.
To stay up to date and see the new projects we fund, check out our virtual forest regularly!
