Human activities have raised the atmosphere’s carbon dioxide content by 50% in less than 200 years
Do you ever check the nutrition label of the groceries you pick up at the supermarket? Or do you check the material and care label tagged inside your clothes before you make a purchase? Labels are ever present in our lives, and they are here to provide us with essential information about the things that we consume. Allow us to introduce another label that you should keep an eye out for the next time you go shopping: Carbon Footprint Labels.
The world emits over 36 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide annually[1], contributing to rising global temperatures and other devastating climate side effects. Carbon footprint is a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide released when fossil fuels such as coal or natural gas are burned and it is used to assess the environmental impact of a product.[2] To eliminate their carbon footprint, companies are ramping up their initiatives to achieve carbon neutrality.
What is Carbon Neutrality, and why should we strive for it?
According to the EU, achieving carbon neutrality by the mid-21st century is a must if we are to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Carbon neutral means that any CO2 released into the atmosphere from a company's activities is balanced by an equivalent amount being removed.
Many large corporations have committed to becoming carbon neutral or negative by 2050, and countries around the world are committing to this too, as per The Paris Agreement signed in 2015. This is a great step forward in protecting the environment and caring for the future.
Collaborations are key to a sustainable future
One of the ways companies are committing to reduce emission and achieve carbon neutrality is to offset their emissions and some companies also choose to offset their emissions from planting trees. A good tree planting program that helps enhance the local ecology can address the amount of deforestation happened over the past century and provide new habitats for wildlife. The VEOCEL™ brand’s longtime partner One Tree Planted is a non-profit tree planting charity that plant trees in countries around the world. Together, they work together contribute to global reforestation efforts and enable positive change for the planet
One of VEOCEL™’s key goals is to mitigate the climate impact produced in the production of its fibers. VEOCEL™ branded lyocell fibers are certified as carbon neutral products with a carbon footprint reduced and balanced to zero through carbon removal projects according to Climate Partner Protocol.
What can we do to help?
Contrary to popular belief, not only governments and companies have carbon footprints, we do too! Daily activities such as commuting to work or the cup of coffee you grab every morning all possess a carbon footprint. We as consumers should do our part in seeking out products that have a low or negative carbon footprint. But how should we go about it?
A good way to find out ways to lower your impact on the planet is by checking your products’ carbon footprint labels. Like nutritional labels, carbon footprint labels help you understand the impact your purchase decisions have on the environment. More and more companies have started to carbon label their products to help inform consumers when making their purchases. So, the next time you pick up a carton of milk or a pair of shoes, check whether these brands have a carbon footprint label, as #ItsInOurHands to make a conscious effort to lower our own footprint on the earth and preserve our environment for future generations.
[1] https://www.statista.com/statistics/276629/global-co2-emissions/
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