CARBON BALANCED
Swisse is now proudly carbon balanced!
With the recent concerns over global warming and climate change our Swisse team decided it was time to put our healthy & happy attitude towards peoples health & wellbeing & put it towards developing a long term sustainability strategy on becoming carbon friendly.
Adopting a response to climate change was our first step over 12 months ago and by engaging the help of a third party consultant, Carbon Balanced Consulting, we conducted an audit of our business. Carbon Balanced Consulting helped us develop our carbon inventory, implement reductions and source accredited carbon offsets. This environmental journey has led us to becoming a Carbon Balanced business.
"Swisse has balanced its emission with its reductions and offsets to produce a zero net emissions"Carbon Balance Consulting.
The term Carbon Balanced is akin to Carbon Neutral but expresses it in a way that embraces a more realistic and holistic approach to the process. Our auditor's definition of Carbon Balanced is that our organisation has been audited on its Greenhouse Gas emissions and calculated its carbon footprint in tones of CO2-e. This amount has been reduced, where possible, and the residual amount has then been balanced by the purchase of accredited carbon offsets. The carbon footprint is described as the total amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions for which our organisation is responsible.
For a detailed report we invite you to read our auditors report here
We view the purchase of carbon offsets as an important element of the solution and approach it as an active way of investing in a service or action that results in an environmental benefit and helps to abate climate change. It was decided to create a portfolio of offsets tailored to our needs and desire to promote activities and events that were important to our Swisse team and ones that we believe our customers could relate to.
Here at Swisse we realise that Climate Change is one of the biggest issues facing the world today! The Swisse team is extremely passionate about striving to make people healthier & happier - so our motivation to make changes that will have a positive effect on our natural environment extends beyond corporate responsibility.
Years of commitment to providing premium natural health products to help Australians feel healthier & happier has now extended to a team pledge to make the world a healthier & happier place too. So, weve been making changes, big & small, to the way we do business & to the way that our Swisse team lives & breathes daily because we know that every little bit counts!
By supporting Swisse you too can make a difference! Join us on our Carbon Balanced journey as we continue to make efficient and effective changes to significantly decrease our carbon footprint over the coming years.
The Swisse team encourages all of our loyal customers to do their bit to save the environment too...
CLED! ("Celebrate Life Every Day!" That's the
Swisse Team Spirit!)
Radek Sali
Swisse CEO
Energy Efficient CFL's (Department of Climate Change Greenhouse Friendly approved) Recognising that energy efficiency is crucial to a more sustainable world, Swisse purchased 550 tonnes of demand side abatement offsets generated from the LESS project (Low Energy Supplies & Services).
View the Carbon Offset Certificate here
For more information please visit www.livegreen.com.au
Carbon Sequestration - Forestry (NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme)
Forest store or sequester carbon through the process of photosynthesis is one of the few carbon sinks that actually removes carbon from the atmosphere. Swisse support the forestry offsets as an important element in providing a natural solution to climate change that also contributes to regenerating much of our natural environment and also aides in habitat creation.
View the Carbon Offset Certificate here
For more information please visit www.greenhousegas.nsw.gov.au/acp/forestry.asp
100% Green electricity
As part of our commitment to reducing our footprint we have now switched over to a 100% green electricity supply that is created from renewable energy that does not create carbon emissions. It is estimated that this will reduce our footprint by up to 121 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide.
Origin GreenPower
Origin is Australasia's leading integrated energy company. Origin GreenPower is electricity that comes from a new renewable energy generation source like solar or wind. Sources must have been built after 1997 to be accredited, encouraging continuing investment in Australia's renewable energy.
CFL Staff handout
As part of our commitment Swisse recently provided 240 CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lightglobes) to its staff to help them reduce their footprint at home. These new globes reduce energy use by up to 80% and are estimated to save around 216 tonnes of Carbon dioxide.
Swisse recognise that the challenge to de-couple our dependence on carbon emitting practices is going to be difficult if we are going to put a halt to global warming. As an organisation we are learning how to best understand and implement these changes in our business and believe we need to share our sustainability journey with our customers and suppliers.
Each year we will undertake an audit to calculate our footprint and continually try to balance our impacts with responsible reductions and offsets. When you buy from Swisse you know that not only are we interested in the health of people, but also the health of the planet.