BiOME are going beyond carbon neutral from 2022

At BiOME Consulting we are committed to minimising our impact on the environment, and making a positive contribution where we can. Our offices all run on renewable electricity, and we have two electric vehicles, but our operations inevitably still produce residual carbon emissions. Whilst we continue to look at ways we can reduce our carbon footprint, in the meantime climate change is marching on, and 2030 is not that far away.

Therefore, from 2022 we will be going carbon neutral by offsetting our residual emissions[1]. We will be providing clients with an opportunity to offset the carbon cost of their projects. We pledge to match this offset, to achieve not only net zero, but a net negative emissions footprint.

Offsetting has received both good and bad press. Ill-conceived schemes can result in a lower carbon sequestration return than anticipated, for example through lack of appropriate management following planting, and even have the potential to cause environmental harm. However, where schemes are well-designed and targeted they can bring direct benefits to people and biodiversity, as well as acting as carbon sinks. We offset with Climate Stewards, whose community projects in the global south – such as providing fuel-efficient stoves, and creating and managing community forests of native species to provide food and materials – do just this.

As well as travel – typically the main source of emissions for ecological consultancies – our considerations will include office running, equipment and consumables. We’ve found that calculating the cost of each project component brings into clear focus where the greatest costs lie, and helps us to focus on where efficiencies can best be made. Why not take a look yourself?

[1] We use a calculator which takes into account emissions from other greenhouse gases, such as methane, too, as ‘CO2 equivalent’ (CO2e) units.