Carbon offsetting can never replace efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our own value chain: by taking action in our own operations, by requiring our suppliers to adopt science-based climate targets, and through our ambition to cut the carbon footprint of customers’ grocery purchases in half by 2030. But in parallel to those efforts, carbon offsetting is an excellent complement that contributes to accelerating climate action on a global level.
ICA Gruppen’s carbon offsetting
ICA Gruppen offsets emissions through the purchase of carbon credits in projects that have been carefully selected together with our partner South Pole, to ensure they provide climate benefits and contribute to sustainable development. All projects are certified by at least one independent third party standard. For us, it has been important to find projects with a high level of additionality, that is, that they would not have happened without our and others’ contributions through the purchase of carbon credits, that we can be confident that the calculated climate benefits are realised, and that the projects involve local communities and contribute also to other aspects of sustainable development.
We have chosen to focus our carbon offsetting in countries in our value chain: Zimbabwe, China, Thailand and Vietnam. The projects contribute to climate action in different ways. Through development of solar energy facilities, fossil energy is replaced with a renewable source; by planting and preserving forests we can bind more carbon from the atmosphere; and by using biomass and creating biogas from waste, renewable energy can be generated.
Our carbon offsetting projects
In Kariba, a large area of forest is protected and preserved, which in addition to climate benefits promotes biodiversity. The project also includes initiatives in regenerative agriculture, beekeeping and fire protection.
The project contributes to local community development, through supporting local health services and education.
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Certifications: REDD+, VCS+, CCBS
When organic material in wastewater decomposes, methane gas is created – a greenhouse gas with an even stronger climate impact than carbon dioxide. In the Linshu project in China, methane gas emissions from wastewater are captured and converted to electricity, which both prevents the climate impact that would occur if the methane had been released to the atmosphere and provides greater access to renewable energy. On top of the climate benefit, the project is contributing to jobs and the local economy.
Certifications: VCS (Verified Carbon Standard)
Waste that is left on open landfill sites is an important source of emissions of the greenhouse gas methane. Through the Vietstar project emissions are avoided, as waste is instead collected and sorted. Organic waste is then recycled into fertilizer, that can be used by local farmers to improve soil quality and harvests. The local economy is strengthened through local jobs and training.
Certifications: GS (Gold Standard), CDM
Demand for power in Vietnam is growing at a rate in which production of renewable energy cannot keep up. Investments in solar panels in the Hong Phong project are increasing the prospects for the country’s continued development without a growing dependence on fossil energy sources. In addition to solar power, the project is contributing to local development through jobs, and support to housing and education.
Certifications: VCS (Verified Carbon Standard)
Production of starch from cassava is a big industry in Thailand, but also a large source of methane emissions from the waste water. In the Nakhom project, the water purification process is improved, and biogas produced from captured methane. This means that the earlier emissions are now avoided, at the same time that the biogas produced can replace fossil sources of energy. In addition to climate benefits, the project also contributes to great improvements in local air and water quality.
Certifications: CDM
