News, sustainability

Certified climate protection projects

to offset the greenhouse gases we generate

As we explained in detail on our sustainability page, our strategy is to avoid and reduce greenhouse gases wherever possible. We actively support and promote numerous different measures and projects to achieve this aim – some on our company premises, others in the immediate region, and still others across Styria and Austria. For example, we’ve introduced a wildflower strips project to protect wild bees, we’ve cut down on plastic by focussing on monofilms, and our production sites are now powered by sustainable energy. But despite all our best efforts, we can’t completely avoid generating greenhouse gases. So, with the help of Fokus Zukunft, we offset them via certified climate protection projects and are thus certified carbon neutral (Estyria to CCF, Scope 3 and the Steirerkraft and Mutter Natur brands to PCF, Scope 3). We do so voluntarily, out of deep conviction and an awareness of responsibility to our planet.


What is Fokus Zukunft?

Fokus Zukunft is an independent, external sustainability consulting company for SMEs. The services it offers range from calculating the carbon footprint of the entire company or specific products, to helping companies offset their footprint via high quality carbon credits, to helping companies develop and integrate a corporate sustainability strategy.

 

 

 

Why do we support international projects?

  • Globality
    Climate change is a global crisis. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter where in the world the CO2 emissions are generated or reduced – what counts is the sum total of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
  • Impact & availability
    The internationally binding Kyoto Protocol says climate protection projects should be located in places where they can make a big impact in terms of avoiding or absorbing greenhouse gases. As a result, most projects of this nature are based in emerging/developing countries where new technology can potentially reduce emissions by a high amount. In addition, conditions in these countries are often far more favourable for renewable energy sources (solar, wind, water, biomass) than is the case in industrialised European countries – where, incidentally, there are very few approved and certified carbon offset projects.
  • Social responsibility
    Besides benefitting the environment, climate protection projects in emerging/ developing countries also help to improve economic, social and ecological conditions for the local populations. This is turn will help the world achieve the Sustainability Goals developed by the UN (see illustration). Emissions trading plays a major role in transferring clean technology to emerging economies and developing countries and thus supporting sustainable economic development.

 

Why did we choose projects in India?

We chose India because that’s where we source some of our raw goods for international trade (organic seeds for baking, for example). By supporting projects that have a connection to the country, we support the people who live there. Just like the projects we’ve initiated back home in Styria, the aim is to improve biodiversity and quality of life on a local level – in this case, via approved projects in India.

Which climate protection projects does Estyria support to compensate for greenhouse gases?

 

Wind energy

Where? Gadag, Karnataka, India

What? Wind park to provide electricity for the region

How many tonnes of CO2 does it save? 65,036 tonnes of CO2 equivalents per year

What does the project achieve?Helps close the gap in the electricity supply in Karnataka, India, without generating the anthropogenic greenhouse gases that would otherwise be emitted by a thermal power plant based on fossil fuels (coal, diesel, oil, gas).

Which of the UN’s SDGs does this support? 7) Affordable and clean energy, 8) Decent work and economic growth, 13) Climate action

>> Click here for more information on the project.

 

Hydropower

Where? On the Baspa River, Kuppa, Himachal Pradesh, India

What? Extensive run-of-the-river power plant for generating clean electricity (approx. 1.3 million MWh/year)

How many tonnes of CO2 does it save? 1,052,463 tonnes of CO2 equivalents per year

What does the project achieve? The construction of this run-of-the-river power plant led to wide-spread general improvements in the local infrastructure (jobs, homes, health care, transport and education). It was built in place of power plants based on fossil fuels and thus helps to save CO2 emissions.

Which of the UN’s SDGs does this support? 1) No poverty, 3) Good health and well-being, 6) Clean water and sanitation, 7) Affordable and clean energy, 9) Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, 13) Climate action

>> Click here for more information on the project.

 

Biomass

Wo? Akbarpur, Punjab, India

What? Generating electricity via biomass to power a textile factory

How many tonnes of CO2 does it save? 35,044 tonnes of CO2 equivalents per year

What does the project achieve? The power station creates jobs for qualified and unqualified staff. Farmers are able to earn extra money by selling their biomass.

Which of the UN’s SDGs does this support? 7) Affordable and clean energy, 8) Decent work and economic growth, 9) Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, 13) Climate action

>> Click here for more information on the projet.

 

 

The UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals

The 2030 Agenda contains 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). Together, they form a global plan to promote sustainable peace and prosperity and to protect our planet. After the Agenda was ratified in 2015, countries around the world began developing national development plans in order to achieve the common vision of fighting poverty and reducing inequalities. We likewise intend to include and pursue the goals in the course of our holistic, long-term corporate sustainability strategy.

See here for more information on the individual goals.

 

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Traditional Styrian
stamp press process

While modernity has brought progress in many areas, the traditional Styrian stamp press process is still the best way of making pumpkin seed oil. The main difference between this and other pressing methods is that we work with open roasting pans. At our plant, people check when the pumpkin seeds are perfectly roasted and so will yield the very best oil. This enables our experienced oil millers to produce the pumpkin seed oil that has won more prizes than any other – and which as a result of this type of pressing retains all the natural constituents. The untreated oil is not filtered; the particles that make it cloudy settle naturally when the oil is left to rest.

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