Understanding the importance of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and their conversion into carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂e) is critical for industries committed to sustainability. Greenhouse gases (GHGs), including carbon dioxide (CO₂) primarily emitted from fossil fuel combustion, methane (CH₄) from agricultural practices and waste management, and nitrous oxide (N₂O) from industrial activities and agricultural soil management, significantly contribute to the greenhouse effect. This process traps heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, leading to global warming and resultant climate change phenomena such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and disrupted ecosystems.
Being able to estimate the amount of CO₂e stemming from industrial operations helps to leverage long-term environmental impact and identify key domains for improvement.
At a corporate level, GHG and CO₂e measurements are an integral part of sustainability efforts. And it is thanks to the efforts of state or global organizations that a collective call for ecological change is being made. For example, the “Vienna Smart City Framework Strategy” (2022) calls for an 85% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Similarly, the European Union pinpoints the nessecity to take advantage of the circular economy and create carbon sinks for achieving “climate neutrality by 2050”. Private and commercial activists are more vigilant than ever and are involved in calling for real change.
So what are we doing to enable the change?
Shouldn’t we simply stop breathing or cease to exist to improve? It seems to be the mentality of many as the results of greenwashing makes us doubt everything (you can read our take on greenwashing in our previous article: link).
We instead believe in the optimistic future and CO₂-saving industrialization through carbon sequestration and storage.
The idea of Hempstatic is to be truly circular, ecological and to present products that are in line with the environment, how?
We provide renewable and CO₂-storing sound absorbers for office, residential and industrial spaces made with natural and healthy materials from hemp instead of emission-intensive synthetic and fossil fuel-based materials.
To understand our impact at the scale of carbon emissions, we conducted a Climate Impact Forecast (CIF) assessment of our sound absorbers.
For the calculation, we used the CIF tool developed by Impact Forecast B.V. and validation expertise in life cycle assessment, climate data, environmental impact, and impact forecasting.
Our study is based on conservative calculations and assumptions to ensure the results remained free from positive bias, aiming for conservatively realistic outcomes with a cautious buffer.
The validation result consists of three independent outcomes, which are:
- Validity of the forecast: it is representative of the product, refers to appropriate data and is based on well-justified assumptions. It can be evaluated as: valid, plausible, improbable, or invalid.
- Reduction potential: it is positive when the product shows a LOWER climate impact than the base of comparison. This outcome depends on a sensitivity assessment. The result can be: positive, positive within limits, unclear, sensitive or negative.
- Impact threshold: it is significant when the product has a climate impact (positive or negative) greater than 5 tonnes of CO₂e per year. The threshold for significant impact can be set to a higher amount for a particular organisation or occasion. The result can be significant or marginal.
What were the outcomes of our study?
- Validity: Valid
- Reduction potential: Positive
- Impact threshold: Significant
Our products are biobased and store CO₂ from the beginning until the end of their life cycle.
As of our current production capacity, we could avoid 172 tonnes CO₂e per annum. This amount corresponds to approximately 180 long-haul flights!
So let’s buy and let’s fly… Just a joke, to put you in context.
According to the CIF study, the extraction phase sums up to about 0,9001 kg/CO₂e and showcases an improvement of 36,7% in comparison to the baseline.
In the production stage, a reduction of -1,06736 kg/CO₂e is estimated which stands for an improvement rate of 75%.
In the use phase, emission reductions are achieved through the carbonatization of lime, a process which enables the natural lifecycle of lime by capturing CO₂ and turning it back into its original form – calcium carbonate (you can read more about limestone and carbonatization in our previous article: link) .
Yet, the biggest impact happens in the end-of-life or so called waste stage. Up to 181,74% of the carbon emissions can be reduced when using our solution instead of synthetic or fossil fuel-based products, due to the long-term durability and eventually the natural decomposition and closing of the carbon cycle via soil regeneration.
This important and accurate data, allows us to demonstrate real carbon storage and CO₂ saving potential.
We are working on improving our processes, environmental performance and the footprint of our products through continuous research and cooperation with scientific partners.
In the world of data-driven decision making, we deliver the carbon emissions impact data to you with every order by default.
Reach out to us, if you are eager to learn more!