We are delighted to be a Carbon Neutral Company, the first in our sector to achieve this. As one of the most experienced and trusted open space management companies in the UK, we take our role seriously.
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e’ve signed up to the United Nations (UN) Climate Neutral Now initiative, launched in 2015 to increase climate action. We have pledged to measure, reduce and offset our carbon emissions with carbon credits every year. What’s more, we’ve also chosen to obtain carbon offsetting credits, equivalent to more than our estimated total emissions since Meadfleet first began in 1995.
As more organisations are now actively taking up the challenge to help halt climate change by reducing their carbon footprint, what can we do as individuals? Here are a few hints on reducing carbon emissions:
Travel
- The burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, CO2, which is one of the main ‘greenhouse gases’ – trapping heat in the atmosphere and contributing to global warming and climate change. Therefore the less fuel we use the less CO2 we release. Consider whether car journeys are necessary, or if there is an alternative method of transport – walking, cycling, using public transport. Also, consider flying less for foreign holidays or business travel, or seeking to offset the impact of flights.
In the home
Energy-efficient homes save homeowners money and are better for the environment. Cavity wall and loft insulation help houses retain heat in the winter and can reduce the use of fuel. Using draught excluders, turning off lights when not in use, turning the thermostat down a notch, or even spending a couple of minutes less in the shower! All are useful and easy habits to get into to help reduce your carbon footprint.
Eating
- A reported 14.5% of global greenhouse emissions are from livestock farming so cutting back on meat and dairy can reduce your carbon footprint. It is estimated that a football pitch size of trees is lost every minute in the Amazonian Rainforest – trees that absorb carbon from the atmosphere. 80% of this cleared land is then used to grow crops to provide cattle food which is exported around the world, including the UK.
- Think about where your food comes from. ‘Food miles’ are a huge source of carbon emissions. We need to make changes to eat more locally sourced seasonal food. We have grown accustomed to enjoying fruit and vegetables year-round, as they are shipped to the UK from around the world. Check the packaging when you are shopping – for example, out-of-season grapes and asparagus are imported from South America – over 9,000 miles away. Both can be grown in the summer in the UK. Other fruit and vegetables are imported from South Africa, 6,000 miles away.
A great way to minimise your carbon footprint is to grow your own food! Meadfleet have put together some ‘Grow your own Food’ packs which includes chilli, pea and carrot seeds. You can request your free packet here.
In the garden
- Grass lawns and areas of flowers, shrubs, and trees absorb and store atmospheric carbon, and also store heat and water – surfaces such paving stones, decking, or artificial lawns reflect heat and do not absorb rainfall. Plastic lawns are particularly non-environmentally friendly – they are made from fossil fuels and then generate more atmospheric carbon in their production process, and in replacing grass lawns remove valuable habitat for invertebrates, birds, and mammals. As the plastic lawns age and decay they release harmful microplastics into the environment.
- When potting plants or improving soil always buy peat-free compost. Peat is extracted from peat bogs, a process very damaging to the environment. Peat bogs are a fantastic natural carbon storage facility.
Just adopting a few minor changes to our daily routines and habits can add to the collective push to reduce our carbon emissions and combat climate change.