In the face of growing environmental concerns, we are stepping up our efforts to combat climate change. At Xelix, we believe in taking proactive measures to reduce our carbon footprint and make a positive impact on the planet. That's why we embarked on a journey to become carbon neutral and are working towards ambitious carbon reduction goals. In this blog post, we invite you to join our journey towards sustainability, and outline our plans for a greener future.
What does carbon neutral mean?
Being carbon neutral is achieved when businesses calculate their carbon emissions and compensate for what they have produced via carbon offsetting methods such as afforestation and forest protection projects. Being carbon neutral is achieved when businesses calculate their carbon emissions and compensate for what they have produced via carbon offsetting methods such as afforestation and forest protection projects.
What does net zero mean?
Net zero is a goal focused on substantial reductions in carbon emissions, followed by the removal of the remaining emitted carbon through durable carbon removal projects. The aim is to achieve a balance between emission reduction efforts and sustainable methods of removing carbon to prevent an overall increase in atmospheric carbon levels. Carbon removal methods include things like enhanced weathering, bio-oil sequestration, and direct air capture.
The 'net-zero target' refers to a government commitment in the UK that plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 100% in sixty years (1990-2050). If met, the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions would be equal to or less than the emissions removed from the environment. The UK's current carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions stand at a huge 331.5 million tonnes.
Our carbon journey
In early 2022, we faced the challenge of addressing our carbon footprint. We recognised the need for action, so we sought a solution that would help us understand the full extent of our emissions and pave the way for effective reduction strategies. So, with the help of Supercritical, we set off on our carbon journey.
Step 1 - Footprinting
We started by undertaking a comprehensive carbon audit and gained valuable insights into our emissions. This was fundamental in helping us understand the breakdown of our emissions and how we’ll need to adapt to meet our ongoing reduction goals.
Step 2 - Reductions
Recognising the importance of addressing emissions at source, we have started a journey of internal improvements. So far, we have implemented an enhanced travel policy, educated the team on carbon awareness, and we now have a focus on vegetarian options at company events, as well as promoting more sustainable practices throughout our operations.
Step 3 - Removals
We then explored various carbon removal solutions. After careful evaluation, we made the decision to create a portfolio that prioritises carbon removal methods.
We are happy to share that we have purchased removal offsets for 100% of our 2022 carbon emissions. By taking a portfolio approach investing in a number of different removal methods, we can help these solutions to scale. The portfolio includes:
