Measuring Our Carbon Footprint

Planet Positive, our carbon footprint.
FACT
The fashion industry currently contributes 1.2 billion tonnes of carbon towards greenhouse gas emissions every year.
To put this into perspective, that’s more than all international flights & maritime shipping combined.

CARBON IMPACT
The science is clear.
Humans have increased atmospheric CO2 concentration by more than a third since the Industrial Revolution began, forcing climate change.
The consequences are significantly increased risks to natural & human systems.
Severe & frequent floods, droughts & tropical storms, dangerous heatwaves & rising sea levels threatening both lives & livelihoods across the planet.

 

2019 ended with a global average rise of 1.1 +/- 0.1 degrees celsius above estimates pre-industrial average temperatures.

Heat waves combined with drought contributed to devastating unprecedented wildfires here in Australia and the rest of the world.
Sea levels continue to rise as a result of the enhanced melting of the ice in Greenland and Antarctica.
Coastal areas are increasingly under threat of flooding as well contributing to loss of habitat to so many species that depend on the ice.

The oceans absorb 90% of the heat that is trapped in the earth's system by raising concentrations of greenhouse gases. Ocean heat reached record high levels in 2019.
A rise in the temperature of just 1 degrees celsius will cause coral to bleach and eventually die. This demonstrates the fragility of natural ecosystems to rising temperatures.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, the raise in temperature of the sea between 2014 and 2016 resulted in the longest recorded global bleaching event which killed coral on an unprecedented scale.

Over the decade 2009-2018 the ocean absorbed around 23% of the annual Co2 emissions, lessening the increase in atmospheric concentration. However, Co2 absorbed in the seawater decreases its PH, a process called acidification. This acidification has a direct impact on marine organisms and ecosystems.

 

THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT 
This landmark environmental agreement was signed by nearly every country in the world in 2015. The goal of the Paris Agreement is to reduce global carbon emissions by 45% to keep global warming well below 2 degrees celsius and limit the increase to 1.5 degrees celsius above pre industrial levels.

 

What seem like small numbers have a huge environmental impact.
These seemingly small increases in temperatures will have catastrophic consequences to natural ecosystems, human habitat, health and global economies.

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE
We believe that it’s our responsibility to reduce our carbon emissions to mitigate the destructive impact of global warming on our planet & people.
We’ve been carbon off-setting through Greenfleet since 2016. But now we’re upping the ante on carbon offsets by collaborating with Carbon Intelligence Pty Limited.
They have conducted an Independent Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Verification Statement, so we can accurately measure our environmental impact.

MEASURING OUR FOOTPRINT
These were our freight emissions for Q1 2020.

INTERNATIONAL
Sea Freight = 3.87 tonnes of CO2
Air Freight = 6.03 tonnes C02
Land Sector = 0.22 tonnes C02

DOMESTIC
Local Freight Emissions = 2.05 tonnes C02

TOTAL EMISSIONS FOR Q1 2020
= 12.17 tonnes C02


PLANET POSITIVE
Total amount of C02 sequestered for Q1 2020 by carbon offsetting through Greenfleet
= 666 tonnes C02


FOR Q1 WE WERE 100% CARBON NEUTRAL FOR FREIGHT!


REDUCING OUR IMPACT
Historically, 90% of our stock has been transported by air freight, as it’s faster, safer & more reliable than sea freight.

But, air freight is said to create around 44x more CO2 than sea freight.

Moving to a sea freight is risky as it’s slow, requires long lead times from production to delivery, & has the increased peril of lost or damaged goods.

NO CHANGE WITHOUT CHALLENGE
In Q1 2020 we shipped approximately 50% of our stock by sea freight = a 22% reduction in carbon emissions.

SETTING NEW GOALS 
Our target is to ship 80-90% of our stock by sea freight.
By 2025 we aim to reduce our international freight carbon emissions by 45% in line with the Paris Agreement.

Stay tuned to our Quarterly Impact Reports so you can see how we’re measuring up to our goals.

Know that what you buy makes a difference.
Arnhem xx
🌏💚