Viewber’s carbon neutrality certified for another year
Did you know the Government has pledged to cut carbon emissions 78% by 2035, helping the nation achieve carbon net zero status by 2050? At Viewber, we’re proud to announce that we remain ahead of the Government’s plan.
In April 2022, we commissioned Carbon Footprint Ltd to complete our second ever greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions assessment of our activities from 1st April 2021 to 31st March 2022. The assessment calculated our total carbon footprint to be 213.81 tonnes of CO2e. During the same period, Viewber offset 214 tonnes CO2e, allowing us to officially achieve certified carbon neutrality once again.
What has helped us achieve this amazing environmental status for a second year running is offsetting all our Viewber members’ travel activity, in addition to our business model that also keeps our carbon emissions low. We are a decentralised company that doesn’t require the management team to commute by car to a central office on a daily – or even weekly – basis, plus the very nature of our business, sending local people to visit local properties, means Viewbers often arrive by the green travel method possible – on foot.
You may have heard the phrase ‘carbon offsetting’ – perhaps if your own company wants to achieve carbon neutrality like Viewber – but what exactly does that mean? For us, that means partnering with UpEnergy – a cookstove project in Uganda dedicated to reducing carbon emissions.
UpEnergy’s more environmentally-friendly stoves primarily replace the traditional three-stone fires used in the country. The environmental impact of these older models is considerable and undesirable. UpEnergy’s newer stoves have already saved 30,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions and more than 120,000 trees. Additionally, the buyers of the stoves go on to enjoy reduced fuel consumption and quicker cooking times – both resulting in a lower carbon footprint.
UpEnergy has already helped over 125,000 Ugandans switch to a more sustainable, energy efficient stove but the benefits don’t end there. The company’s retailers and sales
agents are gaining invaluable income-generating opportunities. As a supplier to the property industry, we were thrilled to learn how the money UpEnergy’s staff earn is allowing them to relocate and move into more suitable housing, with enough money left over to pay school fees.
Our work with UpEnergy follows a successful offsetting campaign between April 2020 and March 2021, with our past CO2e offset by commissioning 121 trees to be planted within the five UK regions where we conducted the majority of our business. In addition to UK-planted trees, we participated in VCS’s Tree Buddying programme, with additional tCO2e offsetting for each tree planted.
Viewber looks forward to maintaining its carbon neutral status throughout 2022 and into 2023. Our Environmental Travel Module – introduced to members last year – continues to impart knowledge on how to reduce our team’s personal carbon footprint, while Viewber’s HR department remains active in encouraging car sharing, the use of public transport and the promotion of walking/cycling where possible.
If you need to partner with a carbon neutral company to achieve your own sustainable goals, feel free to get in touch with Viewber.
