At Carbon Neutral, we specialise in helping event organisers take these vital steps. Through our pre- and post-event carbon emissions measurement services, we provide you with a clear understanding of your event’s environmental footprint. Once your emissions are quantified, our suite of carbon credit products enables you to effectively offset them, ensuring your event aligns with best practices in sustainability.

Leading by Example: World Travel & Tourism Council and Global Health Security Network

Two recent examples highlight how major event organisers are stepping up to take responsibility for the carbon footprints their events generate. One such organisation is the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), a leading membership body representing the global travel and tourism sector. Travel and tourism contribute around 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making the sector a significant player in the climate conversation. WTTC, recognising the importance of sustainability, has engaged Carbon Neutral to measure and offset the carbon emissions for their upcoming annual conference in Perth this October. This proactive approach not only minimises their environmental impact but also sets a positive example for the broader industry.

Similarly, earlier this year, the Global Health Security Network (GHSN) took meaningful action to reduce their conference’s environmental footprint. With over 1,200 delegates flying in to attend their event in Sydney, GHSN enlisted Carbon Neutral to pre-measure their emissions and purchase offsets allowing them to claim carbon neutrality throughout the event. By also conducting a post-event measurement, and reconciling the quantity of offsets required, they ensured that their final statistics were accurate, reinforcing their commitment to transparency and environmental responsibility.

These examples show that measuring, reducing, and offsetting emissions not only benefits the environment but also offers significant advantages for event organisers. Attendees, partners, and sponsors increasingly seek out events that reflect their own values around sustainability. By taking these steps, organisations like WTTC and GHSN gain a competitive edge and elevate their public image, showcasing their leadership in an era where sustainability is crucial.

Beyond Offsetting: Supporting Biodiversity and Reforestation

While measuring and offsetting emissions is ideal, some event organisers may find it preferable to support broader sustainability initiatives that go beyond carbon reduction. At Carbon Neutral, we offer our Plant-a-Tree product, which enables event organisers to support biodiversity and environmental regeneration through reforestation projects. Planting trees has far-reaching benefits beyond carbon sequestration, supporting ecosystem health, improving soil quality, and enhancing local biodiversity.

For instance, some organisers choose to plant a tree for every delegate attending their event, providing a tangible and visible contribution to global reforestation efforts. This type of initiative can resonate deeply with participants, creating a lasting positive impression that goes beyond the event itself. By supporting biodiversity, organisers can address a range of environmental concerns, from habitat restoration to improving water quality.

The Business Case for Sustainable Events

Taking responsibility for your event’s environmental impact isn’t just about doing the right thing—it’s also good for business. Sustainable events offer excellent public relations (PR) value, as stakeholders increasingly value organisations that demonstrate genuine environmental leadership. Events that embrace sustainability are more likely to attract eco-conscious attendees, sponsors, and media attention, which can translate to greater brand visibility and enhanced reputation. Additionally, showcasing your event as carbon neutral or supporting biodiversity projects can offer a unique selling point in an increasingly competitive market.

By partnering with Carbon Neutral, you’ll not only reduce your environmental impact but also position your event as a leader in sustainability. Our pre- and post-event emissions measurement services ensure accuracy and transparency, while our comprehensive suite of carbon credit products allows you to take meaningful action in offsetting your emissions. Alternatively, our Plant-a-Tree products offer a powerful way to support biodiversity and other ecological benefits.

Partner with Carbon Neutral for Your Next Event

Whether you’re organising a large-scale conference or a smaller corporate gathering, taking responsibility for your event’s environmental impact is crucial. Let Carbon Neutral help you measure, reduce, and offset your emissions, or support biodiversity through our reforestation initiatives. Carbon Neutral’s online carbon calculator is a great first step in understanding the key factors involved in measuring your event’s carbon footprint. Get in touch with us today to discuss how we can customise our services to meet your sustainability goals, ensuring your next event is both successful and environmentally responsible.

As the regulatory environment shifts, organisations must adeptly manage the complexities of the Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards (ASRS), which require a high level of transparency and accountability in disclosing climate-related risks and opportunities.

Challenges and Long-term Economic Impact

While mandatory climate reporting offers clear benefits, businesses are predicted to face several challenges during the transition. One of the main hurdles will be the initial cost of compliance, which includes investing in new systems for data collection, analysis, and reporting. Smaller companies, in particular, might find these costs burdensome. Additionally, there is the complexity of accurately measuring and reporting Scope 3 emissions, which can involve extensive supply chain analysis and collaboration with suppliers who may not yet be equipped to provide the necessary data.

Moreover, there is a risk of non-compliance for businesses that are not proactive in their preparations. Failure to meet reporting standards could result in penalties, reputational damage, and a loss of investor confidence. Businesses that are slow to adapt may also miss out on opportunities to innovate and lead in the growing market for sustainable products and services.

Without mandatory reporting, the long-term cost to the economy could be substantial. Companies that do not focus on ESG reporting might overlook significant risks, leading to inadequate risk management and potentially severe financial losses from climate-related events. Additionally, a lack of transparency can erode investor and consumer trust, resulting in decreased market value and competitiveness. On a broader scale, insufficient attention to sustainability could hinder Australia’s progress toward its national climate goals, ultimately impacting economic stability and growth.

How Carbon Neutral Can Help

At Carbon Neutral, we help organisations fulfill mandatory reporting requirements with a structured approach. Initially, we assess and measure business’ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across all relevant scopes. This includes Scope 1 and 2, which cover direct GHG emissions from your operations, and Scope 3, which involves identifying and calculating indirect emissions in a business’ value chain. For emissions that are challenging to quantify, we offer clear, documented justifications for their exclusion.

We then support you through the assurance process to ensure the accuracy of your reported data. This includes assisting with identifying near-term metrics and targets and implementing effective data management strategies. Additionally, we provide a thorough footprint report that not only ensures compliance but also advances your progress towards climate and sustainability objectives.

Preparing for 2025 Climate Compliance

Starting in early 2025, mandatory climate risk reporting will be required for large public companies, financial institutions, large private companies, and businesses in high-impact sectors, as defined by the ASRS. These organisations will need to generate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) data, along with detailed financial disclosures across their supply chains. With over a decade of experience in carbon reporting, Carbon Neutral supports the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s (ASIC) recommendation to “start preparing now” to ensure compliance by 2025.

Understanding and Complying with the Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards (ASRS)

The ASRS has been created to assist companies in meeting mandatory climate reporting requirements. Set to be finalised soon, these standards offer a structured framework for reporting climate-related risks and opportunities within financial statements, ensuring transparency and consistency in sustainability disclosures. The ASRS aims to align with the ISSB framework, which establishes global sustainability reporting standards based on International Financial Reporting Standards.

Businesses and organisations that are required to make mandatory climate-related financial disclosures in Australia will be placed into three groups. It is crucial to determine early whether your business falls under the ASRS categories to ensure compliance and capitalise on the benefits. This legislative change will impact thousands of entities, including upstream raw material manufacturers and service providers, as well as downstream distributors and customers.

To comply with the new standards for Mandatory Climate Reporting, the ‘climate statement’ is based on four key pillars consistent with IFRS S1 and S2 standards. The first pillar, Governance, requires disclosures on board oversight and management’s role in addressing climate-related risks and opportunities. The second pillar, Strategy, involves detailing how the organisation incorporates climate-related risks and opportunities into its business strategy and planning. The third pillar, Risk Management, focuses on the processes used to identify, assess, and manage climate-related risks. Finally, the Metrics and Targets pillar involves disclosing relevant metrics and targets used to assess and manage these climate risks and opportunities.

Implementing robust climate reporting enhances transparency and improves stakeholders’ understanding of a company’s climate-related risks and opportunities. It strengthens the identification and management of climate-related financial risks, boosts appeal to environmentally conscious investors, and allows for comparisons with industry peers, thereby promoting innovation in sustainable practices.

First Steps for Businesses

With the introduction of the new ASRS, the first essential step for any business is to identify gaps in their existing climate-related disclosures. This process starts with a comprehensive assessment of an organisation’s Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, which are foundational to the report. By proactively addressing these requirements, businesses can ensure compliance, achieve environmental and economic benefits, build stakeholder trust, and support global decarbonisation efforts.

To take the first steps in this process and learn more, contact Carbon Neutral today.

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Carbon Neutral is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Ahmad Rashedi as the company’s Head of Carbon and Sustainability.

Measuring the impact of emissions on the environment and society is an essential step in becoming more sustainable. In his new role, Ahmad leads Carbon Neutral’s advisory team, who predominantly provides three alternative types of measurement: Organisational Carbon Footprint Assessments, Life Cycle Assessments (including Product Carbon Footprints) and Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance Reporting.

The businesses that engage Ahmad’s team’s services commonly benefit in three key areas.

• Lower costs in areas such as energy, materials and transport.
• Market differentiation – prospective clients prefer to deal with companies with strong environmental credentials. A recent survey established that 83% of investors will only invest in environmentally sustainable businesses. These businesses must establish their credentials by taking the initial step of measuring their impacts.
• Pressure from stakeholders – taking early action reduces the impact of the potential for environmental legislation in the future.

We sat with Ahmad to learn more about what he will bring to the company and some of the challenges that Carbon Neutral’s partners face.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I started out on the pathway to becoming a sustainability professional because I’ve always been passionate about the sector and dreamed about a better, more equitable and sustainable future for society. I was born in a city named Chittagong in the south-east of Bangladesh, and that part of the world has been more harshly affected by the climate crisis than most. Possibly because of that start in life, when I was studying for my PhD, my main focus was on how I could contribute towards sustainable solutions. Over the years, I’ve focussed my research on sustainable materials and solutions in a number of prestigious universities. I’ve also published over 50 research articles and papers on the subject. More recently, I’ve delivered sustainability consultancy engagements to several reputable organisations in my capacity as a Climate Active registered consultant and a Life Cycle Assessment Certified Practitioner.

What attracted you to Carbon Neutral and what areas of expertise do you bring to the team?

Having done my research into the company, I discovered that Carbon Neutral is one of the longest running sustainability consultancy businesses in Australia. I was initially impressed to learn that they have worked with over 1,000 organisations from all corners of the globe over the last 20 years. As such, I am proud to be a part of its goals, aspirations, successes and achievements. I really hope to augment the business in carbon emissions and reduction consultancy, life cycle assessment and environmental, social and corporate governance related advisory services.

One of the things that I like about Carbon Neutral is that they don’t make any judgments on the reasons that clients and partners come on board. They seem to understand and accept that there is a myriad of reasons for businesses to do their part – the team here appreciate that every action, no matter how small, helps in the fight against the global climate crisis.

This is obviously a great thing for the Carbon Neutral team as it expands the company’s capabilities. Can you briefly explain the key differences between the different levels of assessments and reports that we now provide? (CFA vs LCA vs ESG).

All these assessments basically address different levels of sustainability. Carbon footprint assessment is all about carbon emissions. However, we have many other environmental concerns such as air and water quality, particulate matter, ozone, radiation, acidification, eutrophication, toxicity, and consumption of resources.

A life cycle assessment focuses on all these environmental concerns in addition to carbon footprint for the whole life cycle of a product or service or business. ESG reporting, in contrast, extends the sustainability matrix to environment, society and corporate governance. Carbon footprint and Life cycle assessment have evolved significantly and has been standardized by ISO in the last few years. However, ESG reporting is still evolving and there is no common set of matrixes to evaluate for organisations at this moment.

In my role, many businesses reach out to me, knowing that they want to do something positive but not really knowing what steps to take or which specific service is right for them. As someone who effectively measures impacts and takes the first steps for businesses, it’s a big part of my role to make sure the services they engage with are right for them and their businesses.

Australia only has a handful of Life Cycle Assessment Certified Practitioners; you are one of these. How can businesses benefit from undergoing a Life Cycle Assessment?

A life cycle assessment report demonstrates the hotspots of emissions and impact indicators. A business that wants to reduce its energy (or water consumption or land resources use), can plan early on where to focus to reduce these impacts. A business looking for carbon neutral certifications can understand quickly which alternative options will reduce the carbon emissions and by how much. A construction or infrastructure development farm planning for sustainable project delivery can work out how their supply chain or embodied emissions can be minimized. A product developer planning for more business revenue may intend for environmental product declarations which are also based on life cycle assessment results. Therefore, life cycle assessment has the ability to address different sustainability issues at the same time and for whole life cycle of a product, service or business.

What are some of the common challenges faced with the Life Cycle Assessment and what is required to overcome these?

Over the years, life cycle assessment practitioners and the scientific community have developed reliable emission and characterization factors for evaluating different environmental sustainability indicators. As the technology, production processes and business practices continue to evolve, the practitioners need to work on continuous improvement of the emissions factors and characterization factors. There is also scope for methodological development in life cycle impacts and emissions calculations from a scientific standpoint.

Governments worldwide tend not to make any sort of measuring, reducing or offsetting mandatory for businesses, (except for a handful of large emitters). Do you expect this to change as we approach 2030 and 2050 targets and if not, why do you think should businesses engage these sort of services?

I believe that there will be positive changes in this space in near future. Governments and businesses need to act sooner as it’s vital that carbon emissions are reduced by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050 to limit the global temperature rise by no more than 1.5°C. Already a growing coalition of countries, cities, businesses and institutions have pledged to get to net-zero emissions. More than 70 countries, including the biggest polluters – China, the United States, and the European Union – have set a net-zero target. However, it’s an unfortunate fact that commitments made by the governments still fall short of what is required.

Businesses need to demonstrate true leadership in this situation. After all, a pathway to sustainability will ensure significant cost-savings in their business operations, enhance brand perceptions, and demonstrate their sustainability leadership in a new world intertwined with sustainability. Business leaders now understand that we’ve reached a tipping point where they must act. Regardless of government intervention, they know that if they aren’t seen to be stepping up, then it will affect their own bottom lines.

There are always steps that can be taken to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas your organisation is emitting, and it doesn’t have to be complicated.

SMEs can take a positive and proactive approach to carbon reduction and take control of their footprint. Saving energy can also help achieve the environmental standards ISO 14001 and ISO 50001, highlighting your responsibility to stakeholders.

Here are some of the most effective strategies for small to medium sized businesses to reduce their emissions.

Heating and air conditioning

Both heating and air conditioning are a major factor in energy consumption. Their impact can be lessened by improving insulation and upgrading the windows of an office you own. If you are not the owner, try to find other ways to block draughts.

Try to look for the most energy efficient heating or air conditioning units available to reduce emissions as much as possible. Getting feedback from staff on comfort and temperature can also be one of the most important measures to consider when managing heating and air conditioning.

Air-source heat pumps, powered by renewable energy sources, can also help reduce emissions. It’s also important to plan a programme of maintenance for heating and cooling units to ensure they’re operating efficiently.

Switch to a renewable energy provider

One of the most efficient ways to make an immediate change is to swap your energy provider to one who specialises in using renewable and sustainable forms of power. Often, these will be provided by wind turbines or solar panels.

There are a host of suppliers to choose from, so look around and find one which works for your needs. Check out GreenPower as an example.

If it’s an option, you could also consider installing solar panels for your business.

Lighting

Try to replace as many lights as possible with LED alternatives. This will not only save on your lighting bills (potentially by up to 80%), but also majorly reduce the amount of emissions your office produces. You can also maximise the natural lighting in a room by investing in blinds, as well as considering installing motion sensor lights to avoid wastage.

Office equipment

Organisations can regularly review their procurement policies to ensure they are ordering IT equipment that is as energy efficient as possible.

Making sure that equipment is switched off when not in use reduces energy consumption and also reduces the heat they produce. Going paperless is also one of the quickest ways to reduce waste.

Travel

Electric cars and other forms of vehicles are considerably better for the environment than traditional combustion engines. While they still use a minimal output of CO₂, these types of vehicles will on average produce three times less carbon when being driven. As such, they’re a great investment for any businesses who own company cars.

Collecting data on mileage helps to identify which vehicles in a fleet can be replaced with electric vehicles and the best location for charging points.

Introducing a cycle to work scheme or encouraging car pooling can be other great ways to reduce staff travel in solo vehicle trips.

If air travel is necessary for your organisation, then economy class has lower emissions due to seats taking up less space, and different airlines offer different offset options as well.

Create recycling policies

Make sure your office and wider company have dedicated recycling policies in place. This extends to everyday practices in an office (such as having a specific recycling area), as well as reusing packaging as much as possible where appropriate. Steps to begin the creation of a recycling template include:

• Identify all points at which waste is generated
• Work out how waste is being produced
• Assess the quantity, type and its environmental impact
• Work out the cost of current disposal methods

Once you have recorded all of these details, you’ll be able to begin the process of working out how to combat each step in the chain. Begin looking at opportunities to reduce or recycle waste, while also setting company-wide targets.

Make your products as sustainable as possible

While it might be a challenge for some businesses, if possible try to make the product or service you offer as sustainable as possible. Whether you’re an e-commerce site which sells greener stock, or a marketing agency who makes a point to only work with brands who are ethically-minded themselves, there’s positive steps that can be taken.

If you regularly ship items, try to take active steps to reduce the amount of unnecessary emissions you’re causing. Good steps to take here include using recyclable packaging, reducing the overall amount of packaging you’re using in shipping, and printing labels with a thermal printer to save on ink.

Manufacturing processes

The biggest influence on energy performance is the design stage, but reviewing operating times and shut down procedures can result in energy savings.

High efficiency motors and good, regular maintenance is a key step for businesses that rely on them. Processes involving steam can also be improved by assessing leak detection, insulation, improved water treatments, improved condensate return, and combustion air pre-heat.

Develop a carbon reduction plan

On top of making actionable changes to specific parts of your business, you can also take a wider approach to tackle your carbon output. Implementing a carbon reduction plan gives every member of your team the chance to see what steps you are taking and how they can individually help.

Contact Carbon Neutral to find how we can help create a carbon reduction plan for your organisation.

Talk about it

Talking about sustainability and climate change is perhaps the most important thing organisations can do. Encouraging conversations about how you can be more environmentally friendly can spark ideas and innovation that are best suited to your business and fit the organisation’s purpose and goals.

We are well underway into a sixth major extinction event, with global populations of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians dropping by 68% between 1970 and 2016.

In April of this year 13000 scientists from 153 countries agreed it has become time to replace ‘climate change’ with ‘climate emergency’ in their writing, discussions, and media outreach. When there’s a change in the weather, maybe we’ll try to remember to take our umbrella with us. When it’s an emergency, it’s time for bigger actions and tough decisions to be made. 

The problems are glaringly obvious in our own backyard. In September 2020, Australia was singled out by the United Nations for all the wrong reasons; we are the global leader in mammal extinctions.

It’s not rocket science

Carbon emissions must be drastically reduced if we are to keep the planet from warming more than 1.5 degrees C by 2050, a key threshold recognised by governing bodies across the globe and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 

However, current trends suggest we’re well on our way to surpassing 1.5°C, with emissions spiralling and reductions lagging far behind. We need to find a way to capture carbon already in the atmosphere whilst also shrinking future emissions. 

Capturing carbon has been a hot topic of climate discussions for a long time. It seems like every week a new idea for capturing greenhouse gas emissions appears. Often the wild, planetary-scale technologies such as injecting millions of tons of sulphuric acid into the stratosphere to reflect the sun’s radiation, seem reminiscent of The Jetsons or a high school science fair. 

We may need these far-flung ideas one day if we surpass 1.5°C, but if we do the consequences will be devastating. By then, millions of people living on low-lying nations, farmers reliant on stable weather, and children unexposed to new diseases will be facing enormous risks. 

It becomes crystal clear then that the time for change isn’t in the future, it’s right now.

Luckily, one of the largest carbon drawdown mechanisms on the planet is available to us right now, and they’ve already had hundreds of millions of years of practice – trees.

Trees absorb carbon from the atmosphere using a special chemical called chlorophyll in plant cells.

Captured carbon dioxide is used by the plant to grow, and this releases oxygen into the air for organisms to breathe.

Carbon that has become leaves, stems, bark, and branches fall from the tree, ending up in the soil.

Carbon can remain in the plant and soils for millennia, forming food and habitat.

Capturing carbon, but so much more

Since 2008, Carbon Neutral’s reforestation projects have planted more than 30 million trees and shrubs across 14000 hectares. This is Australia’s largest carbon sink, and the first to achieve Gold Standard biodiverse offset certification.

One million tonnes of carbon will be stored by the trees and shrubs that have been planted already, and this will only grow as the project continues to expand each year as more businesses take action on their environmental impact.

But there’s even more to the magic. Whilst taking up huge amounts of carbon from the atmosphere as they grow, trees form the vital component of land ecosystems that allows life to flourish.

“It’s amazing, the capacity that nature has to heal itself.”

– Paul Leadley, Professor and Director at Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

By planting a mix of more than 60 native tree and shrub species, sourced from localised seed banks, the re-planted woodland becomes a thriving habitat. The image of row upon row of a single tree species planted in monoculture is nowhere to be seen. 

Underground, amidst the tangle of roots and microorganisms, these restored ecosystems recycle nutrients and reduce salinity. One of the biggest problems the Wheatbelt faces is rising water tables and erosion of soil. The re-planted vegetation combats both these issues; more water can infiltrate the enhanced soil structure, and once its there can be retained far longer to grow the plants above the surface.

A biodiverse home to thousands

Australia’s southwest is recognised as a Global Biodiversity Hotspot – one of only two in Australia. For hundreds of millions of years these ecosystems have been home to thousands of plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. And now, the Corridor is helping bring many back from the brink of extinction.

Why a corridor? It’s like having the grocery store on your doorstep, rather than a two hour road trip away. The re-planted pockets are connected to remnant bush and conservation reserves, preventing the isolation that can lead to species decline. This lets animals move between a larger area to access food and water, disperse pollen, and provides a buffer to external threats which can also be more easily managed. 

As the ecosystem grows over time, carbon emissions from the atmosphere become stems, bark, and leaves, building up shelter and food sources for wildlife. The endangered Western Spiny-tailed Skink or Meelyu relies on this biomass year-round in the form of log ‘castles’ to nest in hollows and fallen branches. 

Monitoring projects undertaken at Hill View and Terra Grata (two properties in the Corridor where revegetation has been underway since 2010) have been tracking the restoration of these ecosystems. Birds and plants of local conservation significance like the Malleefowl are continually being recorded, with biodiversity rising and rising.

Our responsibility

Ecological devastation continues to wreak havoc, but one of the steps we have the power to take today is using the natural carbon cycle of trees to make a difference right now.

Carbon Neutral’s Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor also tackles a second problem by creating biodiverse and sustainable native habitat for WA’s endemic species, many of which are under threat.

So far, hundreds of Australian and international businesses have contributed to the recovery of the endangered Malleefowl, Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo, and Western Spiny Tailed Skink by offsetting their emissions in the Corridor project whilst restoring native ecosystems at the same time.

“To care about climate change, we don’t have to be a certain type of person or live in a certain place or vote a certain way: all we have to be is a human living on this planet, and we’re all that.”

– Katharine Hayhoe, Co-Director of Climate Centre and professor of political science at Texas Tech University

The problem of the climate emergency can seem daunting, downright scary, and a threat already too big to be stopped. But projects like this represent an exciting opportunity to claim responsibility over our environment and everything we share it with. 

The solutions are within our reach, and acting now through contributing to the growth of Corridor might just let us stand a chance.

Sources

Fischetti, M 2021. ‘We Are Living in a Climate Emergency, and We’re Going to Say So’, Scientific American, viewed May 17 2021, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/we-are-living-in-a-climate-emergency-and-were-going-to-say-so/

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2019, IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate, viewed May 17 2021, https://www.ipcc.ch/srocc/chapter/chapter-4-sea-level-rise-and-implications-for-low-lying-islands-coasts-and-communities/

Shark Bay World Heritage. ‘Spiny-tailed Skinks’, viewed June 8 2021, https://www.sharkbay.org/publications/fact-sheets-guides/spiny-tailed-skinks/

United Nations Secretary-General. ‘Remarks to the One Planet Summit’, United Nations, viewed May 21 2021, https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/speeches/2021-01-11/remarks-one-planet-summit

Architects Declare Australia is an initiative formed by Australian architects declaring a “climate and biodiverse emergency” and encouraging their industry peers to work towards net-zero emissions.

The initiative calls for the construction industry to strengthen their work practices, understand and account for the carbon emitted throughout the entire building process as well as the operational carbon of the building on its completion.

Carbon neutral by 2020

Recognising that the building and construction industry impacts on our ecosystems, the 900+ signatories are leading the way for more sustainable architecture and urban design.

Architectural practices on the signatory have committed to a 3-step process towards becoming carbon neutral by the end of 2020:

1. Switch to certified green power by 30 January
2. Conduct an audit to measure their carbon footprint by 30 June
3. Purchase carbon offsets by the end of 2020

Measuring your carbon footprint

A carbon audit to determine your carbon footprint is a straightforward process and involves answering a series of questions to determine the scope of your business.

The following are some of the questions you will be asked to provide details on:

1. The number of full-time equivalent staff that you employ.
2. How many permanent office locations do you have in Australia?
3. Do you have any serviced locations or remote workers?
4. How many flights for business purposes do you take in a month/year? Do you use a corporate travel agent?
5. Does the company have fleet vehicles? Do you use fuel cards?
6. How many taxi or rideshare trips do you take for business purposes in a month/year?
7. When would you like to start the process? After 30 June?

Please note the answers to the questions may differ slightly currently due to the COVID-19 environment.

Reduce and offset

The cost of a carbon audit will vary depending on the size and number of locations of the business. At the time of writing an audit will cost approximately AU$1600 for an architecture firm of 12-20 people based in one location.

After measuring you can implement changes in your business to reduce your carbon footprint and offset your unavoidable emissions through purchasing carbon credits.

Contact us to discuss measuring your carbon footprint and view our projects with available credits to offset your emissions.

Concrete. The main ingredient is cement, and is a huge source of carbon emissions globally. How do you overcome this as a skatepark builder when it’s the primary material you use? 

Brad Kasch, Director of Drover Projects, is finding ways to reverse some of the effects concrete has on the climate and hopes to lead the way for others in the construction and building industry.

Based in central Victoria, Drover Projects specialise in skatepark construction and bespoke energy-efficient housing with projects across Australia. Cement and concrete comprise a large percentage of their construction materials.

Measuring footprints

This presents a quandary for Brad who builds skateparks which require a much stronger concrete and therefore create more CO2 emissions. Conscious of the impact his business and construction projects has on the environment and determined to make a difference he investigated the embodied energy of concrete.

To offset for each project, Brad measures the larger emissions such as the embodied energy of concrete, fuels from fleet and equipment. He then adds a significant amount of tonnes to the total measured in the project to ensure that he accounts for all other (scope 3) emissions.

For each project that is completed by Drover Projects, Brad offsets his greenhouse gas emissions through the purchase of carbon credits. In the last year Drover Projects has offset 2,000 tonnes.

This is an enormous commitment and dedication to addressing the climate crisis by Brad, and we are proud to have Drover Projects as a Gold Partner.

Advantages for business

Addressing climate change as part of your business plan is a smart move and can be advantageous when applying for tenders. More and more, we see climate mitigation measures included in the success criteria for local government and private business tenders.

Thanks to Brad’s forward-thinking, he and his company can proudly promote their environmental awareness. Knowing that when they pour the concrete for a new skatepark, they are not only creating a public space for everyone to enjoy but have mitigated the carbon emitted during its construction.

The company has offset its carbon emissions since 2006 and has successfully reduced its carbon footprint so that they take more carbon from the atmosphere than they emit.

To compensate for their carbon emissions, Cullen Wines has been buying carbon credits which support tree planting in Carbon Neutral’s Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor 400km north of Perth.

The distinguished winery is a leader in biodynamic, sustainable and solar-powered practices. Cullen Wines Managing Director and Chief Winemaker Vanya Cullen said the company’s philosophy of “quality, integrity and sustainability” led it to approach carbon solutions provider Carbon Neutral.

“It is the way forward and our little piece to balance carbon and climate change,” Ms Cullen said.

Carbon Neutral identified and calculated the emissions associated with Cullen’s day to day operations. Tractor use, agricultural practices, air miles, packaging and freight, were among the components measured.

Carbon Neutral Chief Executive Officer Ray Wilson said “the fact that Cullen Wines is now carbon negative is impressive. This is a great case study of how a business has reduced carbon intensity over time through production efficiencies and has now become ‘carbon negative’ through soil carbon sequestration.”

Carbon Neutral studied the amount of organic carbon stored in the soil of Cullens’ 31ha vineyard over the five years from 2014.

“Broadly, it is well recognised the amount of organic carbon stored in Australian soils could be increased by changing land management practices”, said Mr Wilson. “This will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase farm productivity and potentially create offsets.”

Moves towards reducing – or even eliminating – a carbon footprint align with the West Australian State Government’s push for WA farmers to adopt regenerative agriculture practices, said Mr Wilson. The Government estimates land degradation to cost WA’s agricultural production sector more than $2 billion each year.

Cullen Wines implemented dedicated changes, including intensive soil management and composting alongside the existing biodynamic methods.

The amount of soil organic carbon (SOC) at testing sites on the Wilyabrup winery indicate that soil in the ground has increased more than 2602 tonnes between 2014 and 2019, on average 520 tonnes a year.

Wine critic and writer Ray Jordan said Cullen Wines’ focus on environmental benchmarks is to be commended.

“By any measure, winemaker Vanya Cullen’s decision to adopt a rigorous biodynamics approach in the vineyard and winery, together with other environmentally sound initiatives aimed it eliminating carbon footprint, has been a resounding success,” Mr Jordan said. “But it is in the quality and consistency of the wines that the impact is most profound. The flagship Diana Madeline is among Margaret River’s elite cabernets with its brightness and energy features of the biodynamic approach. The chardonnays share a similar status with the purity and precision capturing the best of this variety.”

“This has really opened our eyes to what you can do,” said Mr Wilson. “The numbers around soil carbon achieved by Cullen’s has astounded us.”

Cullen Wine’s environmental success shows how reducing an organisation’s carbon footprint without compromising mission or profit is within reach. Ms Cullen urges fellow growers and producers to “go carbon neutral now”.