In order to understand what a carbon offset is, it’s important to first know a little more about greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions are one of the largest contributors to climate change and global warming. Named after their effect on the environment, greenhouse gas emissions work to keep heat in the atmosphere, keeping the planet warm enough for us to all live on.
But, the greenhouse gases resulting from human activities like burning fossil fuels, clear cutting forests, and intensive animal farming are rising quicker than the planet can naturally regulate, resulting in climate changes that we can’t deny. As a global community and as industry, we’re in a race to reduce emissions. If you are a sustainable fashion brand, even though you are already engaging in a wide range of sustainability practices (e.g. you are using sustainable fabrics, your employ sustainable manufacturing practices to reduce your CO2 emissions), there are still emissions that are unavoidable from your production.
This is where carbon offset projects come in. Buying carbon offset certificates helps support projects that sequester, and in some cases avoid altogether, future emissions. For example, the carbon offset certificate may help to fund a renewable energy project, which offers a reduced carbon footprint compared to conventional energy sources (coal, hydro-dam, oil, etc).
Social carbon offset projects work with local communities in developing countries who may not have the resources, or knowledge needed, to start a project on their own. Carbon offset projects connect those communities to larger project developers. Some benefits of these projects include an influx of new jobs and in some cases, safer and more sustainable energy sources.
Carbon offset credits are purchased from these projects, in equal quantity to the unavoidable emissions. This action provides crucial funding for these projects to continue to thrive while making your organisation or products carbon neutral.