The decision at Meadfleet to work towards achieving carbon neutral status was, to coin a phrase, a ‘no-brainer’. Our work in open space management is so closely intertwined with nature, wildlife and caring for open spaces sustainably that it would be contrary to our values to work in any other way.
We are delighted to be able to announce that we have achieved carbon neutral status – and are the first in the UK, in our sector, to have done this. As one of the most experienced and trusted open space management companies in the UK, we take our role seriously. Caring for the environment by caring for our sites and our customers’ wellbeing is entrenched throughout Meadfleet operations.
We believe taking climate action is important for companies like Meadfleet and the housebuilders we work with. So, what action have we taken?
Working with the UN
Meadfleet is now a signatory of the UN Climate Neutral Now initiative which was launched in 2015 to encourage organisations around the globe to work together to achieve a climate-neutral world by 2050. This means we’ve committed to measure, reduce and offset our carbon emissions every year. This can be done through a number of offsetting schemes; we’ve chosen to work with Ripple Africa which is a UK charity with a UN verified offsetting scheme in Malawi. Ripple Africa’s work is changing lives in local communities, by providing safe and fuel-efficient stoves to families.
This reduces the need for local timber which is a boost for the environment and allows children who would work harvesting timber to access full-time education. Ripple Africa also has a tree planting scheme to protect Malawi’s indigenous trees and create a sustainable supply of timber for future generations. We’ve signed up to this scheme which has so many parallels with the work we do here in the UK.
Offsetting historical emissions
Through our work with the UN’s Climate Neutral Now initiative and in addition to offsetting our current emissions, we’ve chosen to go one step further by obtaining carbon offsetting credits for historical carbon emissions, equivalent to more than our estimated total emissions for the past 25 years – since Meadfleet first began.
Committing to a carbon-neutral future
If we are to achieve a climate-neutral world by 2050, as the UN has stated is its mission, our work in climate action must echo this. We’re fully committed to reducing the impact Meadfleet has on the planet for years to come, by reducing emissions, protecting trees and plants in our care and promoting sustainability.
To find out more about the way we work, visit www.meadfleet.co.uk/about-us