Spring 2009 / howies carbon homework

We are at the start of calculating our carbon footprint, working with the Clean Cargo Working Group. We now have a method which we can use to calculate our transportation CO2. Along with information from our suppliers we can calculate our footprint all the way through the supply chain.

Our next step will be to work out the carbon created throughout manufacturing, from fibre to finished garment. We can then add this information to the transportation CO2 so we can get a complete picture. Watch this space.

In addition we need to start looking at other harmful gases other than CO2 such as sulphur dioxide from fuel used in ships, nitrogen oxide and even methane produced by the sheep that gives us our Merino fibre (methane is more damaging to the climate than CO2). Eventually we can take into account how much CO2 howies HQ uses, how much staff create getting to work, as well as heating the building and energy used in our working day.

We need to look at the whole picture, but we feel that we’ve made a start. Once we’ve done that we can identify areas to reduce our impact. I guess the teacher would say ‘good start, but could do better’.

 

Notes from the graphs:

Total CO2 in Spring/Summer has been reduced mostly because of the reduction in air shipments. 
Distance travelled has been reduced due to ordering less Merino in the Spring/Summer seasons.

 

Illustration: Plan-B Studio