Ripon firm becomes carbon-neutral

An artisan spice and tea company based near Ripon has made its business carbon-neutral, by measuring its carbon emissions and reducing and offsetting them to zero.
Some of Steenbergs carbon was offset through planting trees in Sri Lanka.Some of Steenbergs carbon was offset through planting trees in Sri Lanka.
Some of Steenbergs carbon was offset through planting trees in Sri Lanka.

Steenbergs, of Melmerby, already generates half of its electricity through solar panels on the factory roof but has completed this year’s carbon offsetting by purchasing carbon credits to cover both direct and indirect carbon generated from its operations in 2013: just 17 tonnes CO2e, up from 12 tonnes CO2e in 2012.

Axel Steenberg, co founder of Steenbergs with his wife Sophie, said that sustainability, fairness and equity were core to the Steenbergs brand.

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“So we really like the way we can offset excess carbon dioxide generated here in Yorkshire through projects in Sri Lanka, where we buy many of our spices and teas,” he said.

Carbon credits for around 90 newly-planted trees were purchased from Hiniduma Bio-Link Project, a reforestation project in southwest Sri Lanka, certified by the Plan Vivo Foundation in Scotland with its carbon credits registered in the Markit Registry.

Plan Vivo supports projects that work with rural smallholders and communities to protect their natural resources, fitting well with Steenbergs’ work with Fairtrade and spices and teas from rural smallholders in Sri Lanka and India.

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