Helping our clients find solutions to all of their environmental issues and daily stresses often means that we need to travel – by car or by plane – all over this great country of ours. This frequent travel has undoubtedly been our largest recognized environmental impact, one that is difficult – sometimes impossible – to completely avoid … until now.
Watters Environmental is pleased to announce that starting in March of 2016, we will be launching a carbon offset initiative for all flights associated with client work.
We believe that this is an easy and logical first step, when you consider the impacts of air travel
For those not familiar, carbon offsets are essentially a form of trade: when you buy an offset, you fund projects that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These projects often include investing in clean energy initiatives and carbon capture programs. Carbon offsets offer the opportunity to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions – including those associated with air travel – and mitigate impacts to our local and global climate that would otherwise go unaddressed (read this handy guide on carbon offset purchasing in Canada).
We believe that is this an easy and logical first step, when you consider both impacts of air travel and the relative low cost involved to participate. Most major airlines offer the opportunity to offset the greenhouse gas emissions associated with your flight at the time of booking. Programs like Air Canada’s ‘Travel Carbon Neutral’ partner with experienced carbon offset providers like Zerofootprint. Offsets purchased through programs like Air Canada’s will support Canadian carbon reduction projects.
This is our first step in addressing the company’s larger environmental impacts. Our next goal is to measure and attempt to offset the remainder of our travel-related emissions; specifically, the emissions associated with driving to and from work sites and client offices.
In the coming months, keep an eye out for our second Sustainability Report – Making Ripples -which will highlight all of our sustainability initiatives that were achieved in 2014/ 2015!
