6 minute read
CLIMATE ACTIONS
Climate change is a threat that affects the entire humanity and the planet. We cannot turn back time and make it disappear but we should use all possible methods to mitigate it.
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The goal of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is to limit climate warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The goal stated in the Paris Climate Agreement is reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. However, the current actions are not sufficient: success requires effort from all operators in society.
At Four Reasons, we participate in the global climate efforts and have a systematic journey planned towards carbon-neutral operations.
HOW IS CARBON NEUTRALITY DEFINED?
Carbon neutrality refers to a situation in which the maximum amount of carbon dioxide emissions does not exceed the amount of carbon dioxide that can be sequestered from the air in carbon reservoirs or sinks. This means that carbon-neutral activities do not promote global warming. To achieve carbon neutrality, the primary thing to do is to cut back emissions by using renewable energy sources or by improving energy efficiency. Produced emissions can also be compensated by sequestering an amount of carbon dioxide matching the emissions from the atmosphere.
According to the GHG-Protocol (Greenhouse Gas Protocol) developed to calculate environmental impacts, emissions are divided into three scopes: Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3. Finland Chamber of Commerce guides Finnish companies in reducing greenhouse gas emissions with the Climate Commitment, which focuses on direct emissions from the company’s operations, emissions from goods transport and emissions for personal transport.
The shared climate goal of the entire Transmeri Group is to make its properties, transport and traffic carbon-neutral by 2035. The goal has been limited to include these three sections because decreasing the use of fossil fuels is the single most important way to stop climate change and in our operations, these areas are the best ways to affect the use of fossil fuels. Four Reasons aims to reach the goal faster than the speed of the Group, already by the end of 2029. Our primary action is always reducing the carbon dioxide emissions generated by our business operations but, if necessary, we will also compensate emissions caused by our operations or generate carbon offsets.
OUR CLIMATE GOALS AND ACTIONS
In 2020, we started our emissions calculation and investigated the opportunities to reduce the emissions caused by our operations.
SCOPE 1: DEFINITION
Direct greenhouse gas emissions caused by emission sources that are owned or managed by the organization. Examples:
i) Energy production in properties ii) Emissions from vehicles iii) Intentional or accidental leaks iv) Own production process if it includes the release of greenhouse gases
SCOPE 1: ACTIONS
Four Reasons is a sales and marketing organization that does not own any property or handle its own manufacturing. As a result, the most significant action in line with Scope 1 to cut down the carbon dioxide emissions from our own operations is to decrease the emissions from vehicles owned by us.
In 2020, we reduced the use of fuel by approximately ten per cent from the previous year. The most significant reason for the emission reduction was the decrease of sales agents and trainers’ work-related driving due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to that, we also paid attention to making driving plans more efficient. In 2021, we switched to using biodiesel in cars owned by the company, and we recently started a gradual change towards electric cars.
SCOPE 2: DEFINITION
Indirect emissions from bought energy refer to the emissions caused by electricity, steam, heating and cooling purchased for the organization’s own use. Emissions are caused by the use of fuels at energy production plants, which is why they are “indirect” in relation to the “direct” emissions of Scope 1.
SCOPE 2: ACTIONS
In 2020, our calculated electricity consumption increased by approximately 5 per cent from the previous year but, in reality, no significant changes took place in the electricity consumption. The difference in calculations is caused by the measuring method, in which the electricity consumption of our rental storage is calculated as a percentage of the total electricity consumption of the storage hall surrounding it, which increased in 2020. The electricity consumption of our office premises decreased by approximately 13 per cent due to increased remote work. In 2021, we will chart alternatives for the energy used in our facilities, or office and storage premises, and negotiate with our lessors about environmentally friendly energy solutions.
Miraculos’s carbon footprint (tCO2e)
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2020 Direct emissions (Scope 1) Purchased energy (Scope 2)
In the first report, our carbon footprint calculation covers Scope 1 and Scope 2, as from these emission sources we had reliable data available. We aim to expand our calculations to also include scope 3 emissions in 2022.
SCOPE 3: DEFINITION
Other indirect emissions include all emissions in the value chain caused indirectly by the production of the reporting organization’s products or services. These are divided into two:
(1) ”Upstream” – emissions caused by operations that enable the production of the reporting organization (2) ”Downstream” – emissions caused after the manufacturing of the products and services
SCOPE 3: ACTIONS
In line with the policies of Transmeri Group, we commit to the carbon neutrality goal for the emissions of our goods transport and personal traffic. In 2021, we will seek out and select environmentally friendly transport companies to handle our goods transport. In addition, we will build an incentive model to decrease the emissions caused by our sales consultants’ cars.
CALCULATION AND BASELINE
CARBON FOOTPRINT
The emissions of Miraculos Oy are reported as tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (tCO2e)
Source of emission 2019 2020 Change
Direct emissions (Scope 1) 52.16 47.26 -9.4 % Indirect emissions from purchased energy* (Scope 2) 173.83 182.16 4.8 % Transportation and distribution (Scope 3) Emissions have not Business travel yet been calculated(Scope 3) Commuting (Scope 3) Total 225.99 229.41 1.5 %
Miraculos’s carbon footprint (tCO2e)
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200,00
150,00
100,00
50,00
0,00
2019
2020 Direct emissions (Scope 1) Purchased energy (Scope 2) CALCULATION PRINCIPLES:
Climate change: Transmeri Group follows the calculation principles of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. The operative limitation of emissions calculation includes only Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions categories in line with the GHG Protocol but not yet the Scope 3 figures. In our emissions calculation, we apply the precautionary principles, and we have utilized the services of an external consultancy to execute the emissions calculation.
Feel like giving feedback? Eager to learn more? Please feel free to contact us:
Responsible consumption and production: Pia Nurmi Product Specialist + 358 44 775 7522 pia.nurmi@fourreasons.fi
Health and well-being: Johanna Strömsholm Head of Marketing and Communication + 358 44 011 1584 johanna.stromsholm@fourreasons.fi
Climate actions: Jyrki Hakala CEO + 358 40 534 6434 jyrki.hakala@fourreasons.fi Illustration: Venla Vaattovaara @muijavaara
FOUR REASONS
Salomonkatu 17 A | 00100 Helsinki, Finland Tfn. 0201 410 410 | www.en.fourreasons.fi/
