We Reduce the Impact of Our Flights with Double Carbon Offsets.
What We’re Doing about Sustainability
We have to travel for our work, but we’re committed to making our travel more sustainable. Our goal is not to just offset our own emissions, but those of another traveller too. So every time we fly, we plant enough trees to sequester the carbon from 2 flights.
Why We are Doing This
Airplanes emit various particles and gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere and CO2 accounts for up to 65% of global greenhouse emissions.
CO2 is one of several greenhouse gases that occur in the atmosphere. When functioning properly, greenhouse gases regulate the earth’s temperature. Human activities are responsible for almost all of the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere over the last 150 years. When excess greenhouse gas exists in the atmosphere, heat becomes trapped and the planet warms. OK according to which science you follow! But regardless. Offsetting our emissions from flying is a good thing to do for the planet.
How We are Making our Flights Sustainable
One tree can absorb up to 21 kg of CO2 per year, sequestering 1 tonne by age 44. Assuming a tree is cut down at 10 years old and absorbs 80% less during that early growth period, we calculated that 18 trees are needed to absorb 1 tonne of CO2.
A return flight from Sydney to Melbourne produces roughly 200–300 kg of CO2 per passenger — we use 300 kg, or 100 kg per flight hour. Double-offsetting that gives us 200 kg to offset per flight hour, requiring 3.6 trees — rounded up to 4.
From 1 November 2019, our accounts team tracks monthly flight hours and plants the corresponding number of trees to double-offset our emissions. A counter at the top of this page records the total trees planted.
Where are we planting?
Through our B1G1 giving program, we plant trees across four projects:
- Australia — Daintree Rainforest
- Kenya & Indonesia — Reforestation programs
- Indonesia — Rebuilding orangutan habitat
- Kenya — Fruit trees for low-income families
Our Broader CSR Program
Read more about how we donate 10% of profits to worthy causes worldwide through our Logistics Bureau Giving Program.