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Climate protection is an important, but highly complex subject. That is why we have compiled a list of frequently-asked questions on the topic.
- 01. WHAT ARE CLIMATE OR GREENHOUSE GASES?
- 02. WHY IS CO2 DAMAGING?
- 03. WHAT IS THE NATURAL GREENHOUSE EFFECT?
- 04. WHAT DOES CARBON NEUTRAL MEAN?
- 05. HOW DOES THE PRINCIPLE OF CARBON NEUTRALITY WORK?
- 06. HOW IS CARBON NEUTRAL PRODUCTION CALCULATED?
- 07. WHICH OF ALESCO'S PRODUCTS ARE CARBON NEUTRAL?
- 08. IS ALESCO ITSELF RESPONSIBLE FOR CALCULATING CARBON NEUTRALITY?
- 09. HOW IS THE CO2 EMISSION OF A PARTICULAR ACTIVITY MEASURED?
- 10. WHERE DOES THE MONEY FROM EMISSIONS REDUCTION CERTIFICATES GO TO?
- 11. DOES ALESCO RECEIVE INCOME FROM THE SALE OF EMISSIONS REDUCTION CERTIFICATES?
- 12. WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ON THE SPECIAL ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY BIO-FILMS?
01. WHAT ARE CLIMATE OR GREENHOUSE GASES?
In addition to carbon dioxide (CO2), the trace gases methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), a number of the hydro-fluorocarbons (H-FKW, HFSs, KFW and PFCs), together with sulphur hexaflouride (SF6) are listed as greenhouse gases. These all have a negative effect on climate, since they ensure, as a combination of trace gases in the atmosphere, that heat radiation, rather than escaping into space, is trapped and heats up the atmosphere.
In order to compare the individual gases with each other, scientists have calculated equivalence factors for the gases based on CO2. This, for example, allows us to appreciate that one tonne of methane is as damaging as 21 tonnes of carbon dioxide. These equivalence factors were established in the Kyoto Protocol and are now considered binding.
02. WHY IS CO2 DAMAGING?
Carbon dioxide or CO2 is, at concentrations of approximately 0.038%, a natural component of the atmosphere. The colourless and odourless gas is present, for example, in exhaled air, during decomposition and is given off when fossilised material is burned. Due to the use of fossil fuels, such as lignite, anthracite, peat, natural gas and crude oil, the amount of CO2 in the air has, since the industrial revolution in the 17th Century, increased by around 34 percent. This escalation in content causes the gas to function like the glass in a greenhouse. Heat from the sun is able to enter the atmosphere, but is unable to escape from it. This leads to the so-called greenhouse effect.
03. WHAT IS THE NATURAL GREENHOUSE EFFECT?
The Earth’s atmosphere works like a greenhouse – even without the influence of man: water vapour, CO2, methane and other trace gases in the atmosphere create a layer of protection – in exactly the same way as the glass in a greenhouse. This layer prevents the heat radiation, which is normally reflected from the Earth’s surface, from completely escaping into space. This creates an additional warming effect on the Earth’s atmosphere. Without the natural greenhouse effect, the average temperature on Earth would only be minus 18 degrees Celsius – much too cold for life to continue. The natural greenhouse effect keeps the average temperature at plus 15 degrees Celsius. This is exactly the right temperature for the continued development of life on Earth….
04. WHAT DOES CARBON NEUTRAL MEAN?
Manufacturing processes are described as CO2-neutral or carbon neutral, where they do not alter the global CO2 balance. During the production of film, for example, CO2 is released into the atmosphere. This cannot be altogether avoided, but it can be reduced and it can be compensated for. The purchase of emissions reduction certificates supports environmental projects able, through reforestation, for example, to compensate for CO2 emissions, since by means of these projects, the same amount of CO2 is reduced as is being created through production.
05. HOW DOES THE PRINCIPLE OF CARBON NEUTRALITY WORK?
Although we are not able to prevent the emission of climate gases, we are able to neutralise their effects. This has led to the international principle of carbon neutrality being established over the past few years. Simply expressed – every kilogramme of CO2 created is used to financially support climate-protecting projects.
06. HOW IS CARBON NEUTRAL PRODUCTION CALCULATED?
All production-relevant processes are analysed, in order to determine what level of CO2 emission they create. The analysis covers the whole spectrum of production activity – from the manufacture of our granulate (as the raw material for our film), through the way our employees get to work each day, down to the final product delivery to our customers. The result is known as the carbon footprint and it indicates what levels of greenhouse gases are created at each stage of production. The carbon footprint also allows us to calculate how much CO2 is emitted when undertaking any particular manufacturing task. In order to “neutralise” the resulting amount, emissions reduction certificates are purchased. The proceeds obtained from these certificates are ploughed into climate-protecting projects. You can, on request, decide which of projects are supported in conjunction with your order.
07. WHICH OF ALESCO'S PRODUCTS ARE CARBON NEUTRAL?
All products manufactured using bio-film are basically carbon neutral when received by you. The associated costs are covered by alesco. Products made from PE films can, at your discretion, be purchased “carbon neutrally”. In this case, you pay the additional costs, through the purchase of the necessary emissions reduction certificates. We pass these costs on to you, the customer, without making any surcharge.
08. IS ALESCO ITSELF RESPONSIBLE FOR CALCULATING CARBON NEUTRALITY?
No, the necessary analyses for calculating the value of the carbon footprint are set by the consulting company ClimatePartner Germany GmbH. They are valid for one year and are then updated, in order to adjust the calculations to any altered production conditions.
09. HOW IS THE CO2 EMISSION OF A PARTICULAR ACTIVITY MEASURED?
Our consulting company ClimatePartner creates for our organisation a formula, based on the carbon footprint of our entire product range. This allows us, at alesco, to calculate the CO2 emissions per kilogram of film produced. The various types of film, the given stage of production (for example, printing, cutting, lamination), the necessary delivery distance, and many other variables, are used in these calculations. The results not only show the amount of CO2 released, but also the amount required for its “neutralisation”, together with the purchase price of the necessary emissions reduction certificates.
10. WHERE DOES THE MONEY FROM EMISSIONS REDUCTION CERTIFICATES GO TO?
iThe proceeds from the sale of the emissions reduction certificates are channelled into the compensation projects for which they were issued. For example, income generated from climate-neutral alesco bio-film is used for the production of biomass-related renewable energy in India. Basically, all alesco customers have the option of deciding for themselves, when making climate-neutral orders, which projects should benefit from the proceeds collected. A list of all the projects currently certified is available on this website.
11. DOES ALESCO RECEIVE INCOME FROM THE SALE OF EMISSIONS REDUCTION CERTIFICATES?
No. We, at alesco, pass on the cost of emissions reduction certificates to our customers, without any additional surcharge. In fact, for our bio-film product range, we actually pay the costs of the certificates ourselves – without passing on any increase in purchase price to the customer. All certificate administration costs are also paid for by alesco. Balance sheets relating to the proceeds generated by the certificates are checked annually by an independent auditor.
12. WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ON THE SPECIAL ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY BIO-FILMS?
alesco supports the information portal organic-plastics.com, which provides information on bio-degradable bio-films manufactured from renewable raw materials. The site is suitable for anyone interested in the subject. Furthermore: alesco’s bio-degradable bio-films are not only environmentally-friendly, but also climate-protecting, since they are manufactured exclusively using CO2-neutral green electricity. All additional and unavoidable CO2 emissions relating to bio-film production are already compensated by alesco via the proceeds generated from the sale of emissions reduction certificates – without passing on any additional costs to the customer. |
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