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ENVIRONMENT
Toshiba TEC UK offsets
100,000 tonnes of CO2
The scheme, which originated in
the UK and has since been rolled
out throughout Europe, was an
industry first when it launched in
2009. It offsets the carbon emissions
generated from the procurement,
manufacture and delivery of Toshiba
devices through a range of Gold
Standard projects co-ordinated by
global carbon management company,
co2balance.
Each country has the freedom to develop
its own scheme variants which accommodate
the specific requirements of its market. In
the UK, each Toshiba TEC printer, MFP and
auto-ID device is delivered carbon neutral,
with the optional ability to further offset the
machine’s ongoing activities.
Carbon offsetting allows for the
investment in projects that save the
emission of, or absorb an equivalent
amount of CO2 to that of any Toshiba
product’s footprint. Through this process,
emissions are balanced to become Carbon
Zero, which allows for positive business
activities with no detrimental effect to the
environment.
Paul Chiplen, Director of Sales and
Marketing at co2balance said: “CO2
generated through Toshiba TEC’s
manufacturing process has been offset
which, as well as preventing carbon
emissions, has made a hugely positive
impact on thousands of families by
providing a cleaner, easier and heathier
way of cooking.”
He added: “The Improved Cookstove
project is helping villagers in Kenya to
reduce their consumption of wood as a fuel
by building and providing highly efficient
stoves to replace inefficient, traditional
cooking methods. Other initiatives currently
underway include fixing of broken boreholes
in rural Uganda that supply clean, safe
water, as well as work on reducing
deforestation in the Amazon rainforest in
Brazil. Sustainable management and the
protection of the rainforest allow trees to
act as a natural sponge, absorbing CO2
emissions as they grow.”
Toshiba TEC UK Marketing Director,
Jeremy Spencer said: “Carbon Zero was
pioneering at the time it was launched
and seven years later it continues to act
as a stunning example of what can be
achieved through a sustainable approach
to business. We are pleased to be one
of the heavy hitters when it comes to
offsetting a significant amount of CO2
and will continue to do as much as we
can to enhance our own environmental
credentials and those of our partners.”
Open to the channel
In 2013, Toshiba TEC invited its dealers
to participate directly in the scheme.
By extending the Carbon Zero scheme
Toshiba TEC UK’s Carbon Zero scheme has offset 100,000 tonnes of carbon
dioxide (CO2) – the equivalent of 46,874 return flights from London to
New York, the electricity used in 73,542 houses over the course of a year,
and the CO2 generated from making 2.5 billion cups of coffee
to its channel partners, the firm said
that it was offering them a ready-made
Corporate Social Responsibility policy
as well as placing them in a stronger
position to tender for new business with
larger corporate clients, who increasingly
challenge their supply chain to support
their own carbon reduction agenda.
For partners, signing up is extremely
straightforward, they simply supply details
of their company’s gas and electricity
usage, water and waste data, business
travel and accommodation. co2balance
audit the information supplied and provide
recommendations on how they can reduce
their carbon footprint and ongoing energy
costs.
Once a full carbon footprint has been
established for a dealership, co2balance
supplies and retires the required carbon
credits on their behalf in the approved
international register. Dealers then receive
a certificate recognising them as a Carbon
Zero business and can use the associated
branding for marketing purposes over the
following 12 months.
Resellers can leverage Toshiba’s buying
power for the certified emission reductions
or carbon credits, enabling them to buy
these at a significantly reduced rate. And
by participating in the scheme, dealers help
to further support Toshiba’s chosen carbon
reduction projects around the world, and it
also gives them the opportunity to develop
their own bespoke projects that support
their customers’ CSR and environmental
initiatives.
The Toshiba Carbon Zero Scheme supports a number
of projects including:
African Energy Efficient Stoves:
This project provides energy
saving stoves to villages in Kenya which result in the reduction
of firewood by up to 50%.
Kenyan Mangrove Restoration:
Replenishing lost or
destroyed mangrove forests along the Mombasa estuary helps
to redevelop valuable eco-systems both on and offshore.
Indian Wind Power:
The development of wind farms which
provide clean green energy to displace high levels of fossil fuel
based energy from India’s national grid.
Ugandan Borehole Rehabilitations:
By renovating and
repairing boreholes in remote villages across Uganda, this
projects helps to restore a safe clean source of drinking water
for locals.
