The world is getting warmer, the weather more extreme and the seasons less predicable. We all have a part to play, pets included.
Through their meaty diets, scooping their poop and the toys they love to love (and sometimes destroy), their lives contribute to global emissions too. We want to help your dog be part of the solution. At a minimum, not part of the problem.
That's why we're carbon neutral.
We verify and certify our climate action with a third party so you can be sure we're doing what we promise. It's a process that comes in three stages at the beginning of every year.
- Measure our carbon footprint
- Offset through traceable projects
- Reduce our emissions
While Hubie cools off, let's dig deeper. It gets a little science-y. You’ve been warned.
In 2021, our carbon footprint was 3,563 tCO2 (which means we released 3,563 tonnes of carbon dioxide). To put that into perspective, the average UK person's carbon footprint is 10 tCO2 per year.
We've broken down our impact into three areas. Operations, Beco HQ and supply chain.
As with most businesses who make things, our measurement is heavily weighted towards our supply chain (over 99% of emissions). It's fair to say, we know where to start targeting reductions to have the greatest impact.
We've offset 100% of our carbon emissions through traceable projects.
When you offset carbon, you're supporting projects that either remove carbon from the atmosphere (or prevent it from entering it). But it doesn't have to stop there.
Lots of projects come with other benefits. From the habitat protection of endangered species to creating jobs and supporting localised economies. Our project portfolio focuses on five key areas.
"Carbon offsetting, plus some."
We align our project portfolio with the Oxford principles for net-zero carbon offsetting. So, the outcomes of our projects feed into the bigger picture.
Working alongside a community of businesses allows us to have an impact far greater than we could on our own. And, when it comes to carbon, we join those targeting net-zero (preventing global warming from reaching 1.5˚C by 2050).
Offsetting is a temporary solution. It doesn't give anyone a free ticket to continue creating CO2e without a care in the world.
The long-term fix is to reduce emissions. We have set science-aligned reduction targets, which means they are in line with the global net-zero target.
To achieve these, we've put systems in place. We've increased the recycled content of our poop bags from 40% to 100% (recycled materials have a footprint 86% lower than virgin plastic). We've also targeted reductions in the amount of air freight we use.
We (reluctantly) recognise having no environmental impact is near impossible. But, like a dog chasing a squirrel, we'll never stop trying. And as long as we produce carbon, we’ll offset it at the very least and aim to produce less every year.
You'll have to excuse us. We're off to fetch Hubie from the pond.
