Page 31 - Sustainability Report 2022

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MITIGATING THE EFFECTS
OF CLIMATE CHANGE

In line with SDG 13, target 13.1, Phoenix of the newly planted forest. In the long term,
Design Aid purchases United Nations-issued Phoenix Design Aid also intends to introduce
TARGET 13.1 emission credits in order to neutralize its biodiversity into the planting scheme.
CO emissions. Since 2010, Phoenix Design
2
Aid has prepared a carbon accounting The project has been established on a non-
Strengthen resilience and adaptive
capacity to climate-related hazards and report and, with this, receives a CEMAsys profit basis.
natural disasters in all countries. Climate Certificate™ as proof of purchase
of carbon credits for the voluntary offset Next steps in the tree planting project
of its greenhouse gas emissions.
Once the details of the project plan are
Phoenix Design Aid continues to seek finalized, the next step will be to undertake a
other ways to minimize the company’s due diligence check of the land. At the time
carbon footprint – for example, reducing of writing, it has been decided that this will
greenhouse gas emissions at its head office be conducted by a legal specialist based in
by saving energy and increasing the use of Kenya who is already involved in the project. In
digital meetings rather than requiring staff addition, a local representative will also assess
to travel to meetings. In all situations, the the land to determine whether it is suited to
company strives to protect the environment, the activities proposed in the concept note.
including preventing pollution.

Tree planting project
TARGET 13.3
Phoenix Design Aid is planning to offset
its carbon emissions in future by planting
trees instead of buying emission credits. Raising awareness
The company has been preparing for this about climate change
tree planting project since late 2019, and mitigation
the project has now been described in a
concept note after extended research was
undertaken on tree planting options, the Addressing target 13.3, which is about
laws and regulations related to tree planting educating and raising awareness around
and the condition of the land. The concept climate change mitigation, Phoenix Design
note also proposes a number of ideas to Aid has developed a paper selection
support the development of the local area guide that helps its customers make
PLANNED TREE PLANTING ACTIVITIES in Kenya where the trees will be planted. environmentally friendly paper choices.
• Purchase 8 acres of land and plant In last year’s sustainability report, Phoenix In 2019, Phoenix Design Aid released an
suitable, viable trees to offset Phoenix Design Aid reported that the aim of the updated edition of this paper selection guide
Design Aid’s CO emissions over time. tree planting project is twofold: to offset with a special focus on environmental advice.
2
the company’s CO₂ emissions while also It explains why it is important to choose eco-
• Establish an outdoor learning centre supporting the community in which the trees labelled paper and gives an overview of the
to offer homework assistance to local will be planted. These aims remain the same, different eco-labels and what each one means.
schoolchildren. and Phoenix Design Aid has advanced its work
on several initiatives that will contribute to Phoenix Design Aid promotes its paper guide
• If viable, plant fruit trees and allocate the community’s sustainable development. at stakeholder presentations and meetings,
space for supplementary crops that The aim is to have local professionals on social media and in the company’s profile
can provide the local community purchase and plant the trees as well as on the State of Green website: https://
with a source of food and income. ensuring appropriately qualified supervision stateofgreen.com/en/solutions/paper-guide.