Why do I need to calculate my carbon footprint?
Why do I need to calculate my carbon footprint?Apart from potential savings in input costs for the individual producer, market access and retention also serves as an important reason to calculate your carbon footprint. Retailers and processors are under mounting pressure to reduce their environmental footprint across the food supply chain.
The potential market access implications could negatively impact producers in developing countries such as South Africa. The wine industry is a prime example of where such risk exists. On average, it exports almost 430 million litres of wine each year and about 23% of this goes to the UK.
The developing world will have to start managing the perceptions of buyers and policy makers. This can be achieved by providing objective information on carbon emissions along the supply chain, as well as keeping them informed of measures to reduce these emissions. Figure 1 illustrates the current situation on a typical wine production unit.
Figure 1: Percentage contribution of CO2 emissions from farm activities to total CO2 emissions.
The carbon footprint calculator is the key to unlocking your full potential.
How much time will this take?
The hardest part of completing the tool is to collect the necessary information from within your organisation. Once collected, completion of the process could take an hour or two, depending on one’s level of experience. Once you understand what is required, you can set up systems to collect the information throughout the year and final input into the calculator will be quick.
How will I benefit?
- You will have a better understanding of where the “hotspots” in your business are in terms of carbon emissions and also inputs such as fuel and agrochemicals. This could potentially help to reduce input costs.
- You can compare yourself with others within your region via the benchmarks provided in the carbon footprint report.
- You can use the information from your carbon footprint report in your market communication and show that you are addressing your climate related risks!
- Compliance with standards and market requirements.
Who takes part in this initiative?
The initiative has over 1 500 registered users and around 702 businesses with completed carbon footprints. The wine industry, specifically cellars, has seen great growth in participation with 141 cellars and 68 farms having completed carbon footprints.
“Winetech is a key stakeholder and funder of the CCC initiative and with the 2017/18 cycle of the VinPro study groups taking shape, we would like to encourage producers/wineries to make use of this opportunity to not merely focus on the compliance side, but to also incorporate the principles and the calculator to improve cost-efficiencies in the supply chain,” says Christo Conradie, manager of VinPro’s cellar division.
Participation is expected to accelerate with increased climate change impacts and market pressures. Join CCC and be part of the pioneers in sustainable farming!
I want to get involved; what now?
1. Attend a CCC training workshop – follow the link to check for upcoming workshops.
Why not get a few farmers and cellars together and approach CCC for a workshop tailored to your needs?
2. Contact CCC via email or phone for advice – Anél Blignaut, anel@bluenorth.co.za / +27 (0)82 7519596
3. Sign up for our newsletter via the CCC website: www.climatefruitandwine.co.za
