SYSTEMIQ is proud to announce that we offset the carbon emissions of our business operations. We chose to collaborate with Plant for the Planet, a NGO committed to plant 1,000 billion trees all over the world and to empower one million children to become Climate Justice Ambassadors. Read more about the fascinating story of Felix Finkbeiner, who founded this NGO when he was 9 years old.
Why did we choose to offset by planting trees? Because it is the most economical, the easiest and the most scalable method of carbon capture and storage. Forests are great natural carbon sinks. Planting trees is an effective means of binding carbon. Through photosynthesis trees absorb carbon dioxide to produce oxygen and to grow.
Plant for the Planet plants trees in Campeche, Mexico. One tree planted there captures 40 kg of CO₂ per year. In calculating CO₂ compensation they conservatively estimate a tree’s life to be ten years, taking into account natural environmental impacts caused by fire, storm, frost, drought, fungus and insect infestation. That means 1 tree offsets 400 kg of CO₂ emissions.
SYSTEMIQ has set itself a target of planting 10,000 trees over the next years, to contribute to the 1 trillion tree campaign. This contribution is independent of our forest projects in Indonesia and Malaysia, where we work to preserve standing forest and to reforest degraded areas. Read more about our projects here.
SYSTEMIQ has established a mechanism for employees to voluntarily offset their personal footprint through a payroll deduction at the end of each year. The funds thus collected from our employees are added to the number of trees we are planting to offset our business operations footprint.
Of course, for us at SYSTEMIQ, offsetting our carbon footprint is not enough – we also need to challenge the status quo of business operations. Our team is committed to make behavioral changes and has developed internal guidelines on how to minimize carbon emissions resulting from our activities. SYSTEMIQ also paid special attention during the furnishing and installation of our offices to go for items and furniture which is energy efficient reused, up-cycled, recycled, Cradle-to-Cradle, and/or fairly produced.
Do you want to be part of the movement? Support us to achieve our targets and plant trees! If you want to offset your personal footprint, you can calculate it using this footprint calculator. Have a look at our tree counter, and make contributions of your own!
video by Plant for the Planet
