Carbon Footprint

What is carbon footprint?

Whenever we drive a car, take a plane or order flyers, we generate greenhouse gas emissions, such as CO2, that get released into our atmosphere and heat up the planet. These emissions are very damaging to our environment. So, when we talk about the carbon footprint of our products, we're diving into the environmental impact they have. Think of it as the trail of greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide (CO2), that our products leave behind from production to your doorstep.

How is the carbon footprint of our products calculated?

We work closely with EcoCart, carbon footprint calculations experts, to calculate the footprint of our products. It involves assessing the entire lifecycle of a product, considering factors like raw material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, and even disposal. It's like understanding the ecological journey of each product, and EcoCart ensures we have the precise numbers.

Why should I care about the carbon footprint of the products I am ordering?

Your order isn't just about paper and ink; it's a part of a bigger environmental story. Being aware of the carbon footprint means you're making an informed choice. By understanding the impact, you can choose to compensate those emissions by offsetting them, making your order not just a print job but a positive step towards environmental responsibility.

How can I offset the carbon footprint or my orders?

We offer a CO2 compensation option, where you can contribute to environmental projects that balance out the emissions generated by your order. It's like giving back to the planet. So, with a simple click, your print job becomes a force for good – preserving trees, supporting local communities, and actively contributing to a better Earth.

How does compensating and offsetting CO2 emissions work?

When you place an order, like 100 flyers emitting 250 grams of CO2, EcoCart calculates and assigns a monetary value, let's say 5 euros, based on the price of a ton of CO2. This calculation not only represents the environmental impact but also considers the cost of investing in forest conservation projects to replace what has been consumed.
You are then given the opportunity to compensate for these emissions by contributing the calculated amount. The funds are directed towards conservation initiatives in the Amazon, safeguarding existing forests. These projects play a crucial role in promoting sustainable practices within local communities, enhancing efficiency, and reducing pollution.
The compensation process operates over the lifespan of the trees. As the trees mature, they actively capture CO2, filtering it from the air. By paying a specific amount, you are effectively offsetting your carbon emissions throughout the tree's life.
Certified projects earn carbon credits by actively reducing CO2 emissions, which can be purchased by individuals or companies for offsetting. Choosing to offset ensures that the CO2 reduction has already occurred, providing an immediate and tangible positive impact on climate protection. This is made possible by your decision to offset and a pricing model factoring in forest conservation costs.

Why offsetting my order is so cheap?

The confusion around low prices of carbon offsets stems from the perception that a small amount of money can lead to a significant impact, like saving an entire tree. This apparent paradox is due to the overall affordability of carbon offsetting, supported by various inexpensive emissions reduction methods. For instance, a single low-energy light bulb can save 250 kg of CO2 in six years, equivalent to a short flight.
The cost of offset schemes varies based on factors such as project type, size, location, and the value it provides. Smaller-scale projects are generally more expensive to implement and offer less compensation per ton of CO2. However, offset projects in undeveloped countries tend to be more cost-effective, as programs in developed countries are higher in cost, and local initiatives are in high demand, increasing their price.

How can I make sure that I actually have an impact and support a legitimate project?

When you choose to offset your order, the total amount is donated to a forest conservation and restoration project in the Amazon. The supported activities ensure the conservation and restoration of trees, allowing them to continue capturing CO2 at their full potential. The project, funded by your carbon offset, engages communities to reduce dependence on forest resources by providing alternative income sources. Local communities are trained as patrols to monitor and detect deforestation, taking early actions to mitigate illegal activities. These efforts have been triple-verified by EcoCart, confirming the project's legitimacy through careful inspection of financials, management, project site, and carbon reduction methods. Internationally recognised certifications like the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard (CCB) and Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) further validate the project's effectiveness in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and having a net positive impact. All necessary documentation proving the legitimacy is available upon request, ensuring your offset actively contributes to preserving trees in the Amazon rainforest.
Protecting existing trees is more beneficial than solely focusing on reforestation. Newly planted trees take around 10 years to reach peak carbon sequestration and demand significant resources. Mature forests, with strong trees at their peak carbon sequestration, support biodiversity, endangered species, and wildlife habitats.
Prioritising existing trees doesn't diminish the importance of planting new ones. The goal is to strike a balance, emphasising mature forest preservation before expanding with new plantings.

Why don't you just stop printing, so you don't have to cut trees?

Unfortunately, this will not solve the problem. As a platform, we have the possibility to create a huge impact and motivate our suppliers and clients to make sustainable choices. We want to make it possible for you to order our products in the most sustainable way. The first step is to offset the carbon emissions that are created when ordering our products. Next to that, we also strive to continuously add a wider range of sustainable products to our current range. The second step we want to take is to recommend the most sustainable option to our customers, in the long term. To achieve this, we have to assess about 300+ partners and 10 million product combinations. These estimations are costly, time-consuming and complex, so while we start on that, we want to offer to offset carbon emissions now. We are one of the first printing companies to provide the possibility to offset your emissions. This way, we can accelerate the sustainable transition within the printing industry.