One of the core ways we improve our impact on the environment is by being a Carbon Neutral company and are often asked about the steps we took to achieve this. We are really passionate about sustainability, so wanted to share what we had learned – and are continuing to learn – during our journey to carbon neutrality.

The process to become Carbon Neutral is naturally quite involved – there has to be a robust system to ensure accurate data collection and reporting and a way to calculate results that are meaningful. To help us we partnered with Turning the Black Country Green (TTBCG), a local company of specialists that made sure we were on the right track, and who continue to support our journey to NetZero.

To help other organisations who want to make this happen, we’ve outlined the steps you need to take and how we went about the process. If you want to know more about our experience and how you could take the same path, get in touch.

1. Measure your Carbon Footprint

The first step was to accurately measure our Carbon Footprint. All organisations need to know what their emissions are and where these are coming from, before they can be addressed. This means calculating the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with every aspect of the business, from raw material sourcing to manufacturing, transportation, and end-of-life disposal.

It’s important to note that emissions are divided into 3 areas:

• Scope 1 (Direct Emissions): These are emissions from sources that are directly owned or controlled by the company. For Sandland Packaging, this includes the fuel used in our company vehicles.

• Scope 2 (Indirect Emissions from Energy Use): These are emissions that a company causes indirectly and come from where the energy it purchases and uses is produced. For Sandland Packaging, this is the energy we use to power our machinery, lighting and heating in our production facility.

• Scope 3 (Other Indirect Emissions): These are all of the other indirect emissions that occur in the company, either ‘upstream’ so purchased from suppliers or ‘downstream’ so associated with who buys our boxes. For Sandland Packaging, this includes the corrugated board purchased to make our boxes, investment in capital goods and waste disposal.

For the majority of companies, most of their emissions will be Scope 3.

It is important to note that very early on, we took the decision to take into account ALL of our emissions, not just Scopes 1 and 2, which some other companies do. This way, we make the most impact and show our commitment to reducing carbon emissions and improving our impact on the planet.
Our packaging is certified Carbon Neutral, which means our customers benefit directly. This was hugely important to all of the team at Sandland Packaging.

2. Reducing Emissions

Once the carbon footprint is established, the next step is to implement strategies to reduce emissions. Here are some key approaches:

Energy Efficiency: Upgrading machinery and optimising production processes can reduce energy consumption. Implementing energy management systems and regular maintenance schedules also help improve efficiency.

Renewable Energy: Transitioning to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, or biomass can substantially cut down on emissions. Installing on-site renewable energy systems or purchasing green energy from suppliers are viable options.

Sustainable Sourcing: Using sustainably sourced raw materials, such as certified recycled corrugated from responsibly managed sources, can lower the environmental impact.

Waste Minimisation: Implementing a circular economy approach where waste materials are recycled back into production can reduce emissions associated with waste management. Innovative design changes to packaging can also minimise material use.

For us, the move to a renewable energy tariff was the start. We have also been investigating viable onsite renewable energy options and will continue to do this. Our team are also looking at alternative fuel options for the company vehicles and improving driver skills to reduce fuel use. The team have also been approaching suppliers to find out what their plans are for achieving carbon neutrality.

A major benefit is our use of corrugated cardboard which is circular in nature, being made of a high proportion of recycled material and being easily recycled itself, until it can be composted. Additionally our bespoke packaging is manufactured to fit the products they are protecting, minimising wasted materials and space and allowing the maximum number of items to fit on a pallet.

As we are FULLY Carbon Neutral, this means everything you buy from Sandland Packaging has no associated carbon emissions. This is brilliant news when you are Carbon Accounting. All of the packaging you buy from us will be registered as zero, a fast win for your sustainability team.

3. Offsetting Remaining Emissions

We regularly look at new technologies to evaluate their potential to reduce our carbon footprint, but at the moment some emissions are unavoidable. To achieve carbon neutrality, these residual emissions are offset by investing in certified carbon offset projects. These projects can include reforestation, renewable energy installations, and methane capture initiatives. Ensuring that these projects are certified by reputable standards such as the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) or Gold Standard guarantees that the offsets are real, additional, and permanent.

We invest in:

• Verified Carbon Standard (VCS)

• Gold Standard

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

4. Certification and Communication

Once we had been through this full process, the team at TTBCG confirmed we were Carbon Neutral and presented us with our certificate. This was a huge achievement for the whole team and we could not have been more pleased. But it doesn’t stop there: every year we go through the same process to continually report on our emissions and look for ways to keep bringing them down.

Recently, we were pleased to report we retained our Carbon Neutral certification for the 3rd year running and had reduced our full 3 scope Carbon Footprint by a total of 17.15%.

It is important to communicate these efforts to customers, investors, and other stakeholders. People are interested in sustainability measures and companies need to know what is possible and how it’s done. Customers want to buy the most sustainable packaging and need to know what steps are being taken to achieve this.

Becoming Carbon Neutral is a process that requires a dedicated approach to measuring, reducing, and offsetting emissions. By adopting energy-efficient technologies, using renewable energy, sourcing materials sustainably, and investing in certified carbon offset projects, businesses can significantly reduce their environmental impact. We have. Achieving carbon neutrality means we help to mitigate climate change which is important to our team, our suppliers and our customers.

Get in touch if you want to know more about Carbon Neutral packaging or taking the journey to becoming NetZero.