What is carbon neutral?

What is a product's carbon footprint?

The carbon footprint of a product is a measure of all of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with all the stages of manufacture, distribution, retail and consumer use and disposal. It is usually expressed in grams or kilograms of carbon dioxide but actually includes all of the greenhouse gasses (e.g. methane) measured as carbon dioxide equivalent: their equivalent greenhouse warming potential compared to that of carbon dioxide.

What is carbon offsetting?

Carbon offsetting means investing in a carbon reduction project to happen that will remove an equal amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as the activity that you want to offset will produce.

What sorts of projects are used for offsetting?

There are lots of different types of carbon reduction projects, from a wind-farm in India that produces CO2-free energy and replaces power from a polluting coal-fired power plant, to a reforestation project in Peru, restoring native forests, which absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and store it in the form of carbon in the wood and roots of the trees.

How do I know these projects actually make a difference?

Offset projects are prepared to strict standards to ensure that the reductions are genuine, lasting and measurable. All projects are verified by independent auditors ensure that the projects follow strict standards. For example, CDM projects are rigorously checked by a United Nations body of experts, thus providing us with the confidence that the money from the sale of offsets goes to projects owners who have made real reductions happen.

How do I know what project the offset for my product has come from?

Each carbon neutral product uses a unique serial number. When you enter this serial number at www.piqqo.com it will connect you to the product page where you can see exactly what project the offset has come from as well as a breakdown of the product’s footprint.

How do I know that my label is genuine?

Each unique serial number is tracked in our system so we know exactly what product it should be, what the footprint of that product is and what project that offset has come from. This way, companies can only add labels to their products if they have offset the footprint with us first.

How is the footprint calculated?

Our footprints are calculated following the PAS 2050 guidelines developed by the Carbon Trust. We carry out a lifecycle assessment of each product, from the raw materials right through to the customer use and disposal.

Is the product footprint always 100% accurate?

There may be instances where we need to use averages to calculate the footprint of a product range, or use sensible proxies when a product may go through more than one possible lifecycle (e.g. some products may be sold direct online, some may be sold in wholesale to in store retailers). In these instances we clearly communicate how the footprint of the product has been calculated and where these averages or proxies may have been necessary to use.

What does the footprint breakdown mean?

• Raw materials:

  The GHG emissions resulting from the processes used in the transformation of the raw materials, including all inputs used at any stage in the lifecycle.

• Manufacture:

  The GHG emissions arising from all activities in the manufacturing process from collection of raw materials to distribution as well as all of the materials produced.

• Distribution:

  The GHG emissions arising from all steps in transport and related storage including road, air, water, rail or other transport methods that form part of the life cycle of the product.

• Retail:

  The GHG emissions arising from the retail storage and display of the product

• Consumer use:

  The GHG emissions arising from the consumer’s storage, preparation, use, and maintenance of the product.

• Disposal/Recycling:

  The GHG emissions arising from the final disposal of the product. This includes all the steps in the disposal/recycling cycle from transport, storage and processing the product.

What if I buy one carbon neutral product and then use it with another carbon neutral product?!

For example, you may buy a carbon neutral t-shirt and then wash it in your carbon neutral washing machine using carbon neutral laundry detergent! Oh dear! Even though in this example you have ‘doubled up’ (or even tripled!) on carbon neutral items, does it really matter? Think of all the hundreds of things you do that aren’t carbon neutral. A bit less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can only be a good thing.