Help With Carbon Offsetting For Red Diesel Users | Nationwide Fuels
Help With Carbon Offsetting For Red Diesel Users
Home Nationwide Fuels News Help With Carbon Offsetting For Red Diesel Users
With the UK’s 2050 target – to reduce emissions by 80% – more and more business owners are seeking ways to reduce their carbon footprint and adopt new business processes which abide by the more stringent rules.
Global warming is one of the outcomes of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere. Farmers especially are already feeling the effects, as the droughts and heavy rainfall are becoming more common – severely affecting their productivity.
When we use energy, we leave behind a carbon footprint which is impinging on our planet. The more energy we use – yes, you guessed it – the bigger the carbon footprint.
To put this information into perspective, we’ve put together an example scenario below.
Let’s say a farmer is using his tractor for some agricultural work. Tractors tend to run on red diesel. 1-litre of red diesel in a tractor will result in 2.9kg of carbon dioxide into the air. This is the equivalent of having a 45-minute shower or travelling 7 miles in your car.
If there are 9,000 tractors all using 1-litre of gas oil, 9,000-litres would result in 24.84 tonnes of carbon emitted in to the atmosphere.
9,000 tractors might seem like a lot to visualise, but if we combine all agricultural machinery, industrial machinery and other machinery, then 9,000 doesn’t even come close to the number of machines in daily operation.
Let’s point out, 1-litre is a very miniscule amount of fuel that would barely even power a tractor, which demonstrates the vast amount of carbon emissions that are being released into the atmosphere every day.
Red diesel can only be legally used in off-road vehicles, and is therefore commonly used in the agriculture, construction and manufacturing industries. The fuel is the lifeblood for many businesses, meaning you may have no option but to use red diesel to power equipment that is essential for your productivity.
Obviously, fuel is one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions, so it’s important to look at ways to reduce your carbon footprint, without impacting your operations.
A popular, and simple way to reduce your footprint, is through using carbon offset red diesel.
Firstly, how does carbon offsetting work?
It’s simple really. Carbon offsetting works by buying ‘tokens’ or credits which are then used to help absorb and balance CO2 emissions being released into the atmosphere through funding carbon offsetting projects elsewhere. Activities might include planting trees and factory renovations in developing areas.
Credits purchased in order to offset the diesel work on a tonne by tonne basis. 1 credit = 1 tonne.
So what is carbon offset red diesel?
Carbon offset red diesel (C.O.R.D) is an alternative ‘green diesel’ for businesses looking for fuel supplies that won’t increase their carbon footprint. There are some fuel companies (like us!) that provide red diesel (gas oil) that has already been offset.
Green diesel isn’t green in colour, that’s for sure. ‘Green diesel’ or carbon offset red diesel (C.O.R.D) is normal red diesel (so usually red in colour) but it has already been offset against emissions. This means that if your business purchases C.O.R.D, you won’t need to worry about the emissions from your equipment and vehicles, because C.O.R.D compensates CO2 elsewhere in the carbon cycle.
We encourage all of our business customers to use C.O.R.D. When carbon emissions are generated through using the fuel, you’ll have already contributed in a positive way to reducing emissions elsewhere in the world when you come to use your diesel.
For just a few extra pence, the benefit of using an environmentally friendly red diesel to counterbalance the emissions produced from your fuel is substantial.
That means that by using carbon offset gas oil, you will be helping to soak up carbon dioxide in other areas, which will allow you to focus on being green and reduce your carbon footprint without having to think about it.
What’s more, customers and employees who appreciate carbon offsetting companies using environmentally-friendly gas oil will be reassured by your business’ operations and green conscience.
Doing a bit more with environmentally-friendly red diesel
The advantage of using a green fuel like carbon offset diesel for your business has its obvious benefit but using red diesel which has carbon offsetting attached to it will also:
Reduce carbon dioxide and improve our planet’s sustainability
Improve your company’s carbon reduction commitment. You can then mention C.O.R.D in your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report
C.O.R.D will compliment any existing measures that your company has put in place for a cleaner, greener environment
Help bolster relationships with communities, customers and media who share a similar concern
Projects which are set up from the Offset scheme improve the quality of life in developing countries. Log burning stoves can be swapped for solar ovens which slowly decreases the number of greenhouse gases released from burning wood. Not only does this improve the quality of life, it also helps teach people about the negative impacts of CO2 emissions
Create a safer, cleaner world for generations to come
And, what else beats the feeling of being able to say: “We’re doing our bit for the environment”?
If everybody clubs together to reduce even a small amount of pollution, then we can together help reduce pollution. To find out more about our carbon offset red diesel and to start going green, get in touch today on 0330 678 0880.