Planting 800 trees neutralises the carbon footprint

After measuring and calculating the CO2 emitted to the atmosphere during Expobioenergía 2011, the time has come to offset in the way suggested by Huellacero, an initiative of Fundación Cesefor and Agresta which makes calculations in order to implement alternatives to reduce and offset carbon dioxide emission caused by business activity.

According to a report by Huellacero, Expobioenergía 2011 caused the emission of 181 tons of CO2, - a calculation that does not include emissions from professionals visiting the event. Emissions from stand installation come from consuming fossil fuels to transport exhibitors and their equipment to the fair, and there are others caused by fossil fuels used in machinery demonstrations. Emissions from organisation are mainly due to journeys made by members of the working team. Finally, climate conditioning and lighting used gas and electricity during the days of the event.

Carbon footprint offsetting
Offsetting means fixing 181 t of CO2 for over 100 years, which corresponds to organising, stand installation, heating and lighting both in the run up and during the event.

Offsetting was carried out last November by re-populating an area of 0.8 hectares with trees in the municipality of Cubillas de Santa Marta (Valladolid, Spain), where 800 trees were planted: 648 pines and 152 holm oaks. It is an area with very little tree cover. The Environmental Department for the regional government Junta de Castilla y Leon, used the Valladolid Territorial Service to select an area which had not been re-planted because of lack of funding. There was collaboration with Funcación Cesefor, who provided plant.

This can be seen as an example of collaboration to improve the natural environment, which can be achieved thanks to voluntary emissions offsetting and which fulfils the two aims outlined by Huellacero:

• local improvement in the environment, with all the benefits that stem from this regarding the landscape, water, air and forest products.
• global improvement through the reduction of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere and the fight against climate change.

“Expobioenergía's commitment to the environment is real, our involvement is genuine”. This is fair manager Jorge Herrero's first reflection as he looks back: “by replanting, Expobioenergía 2011 closes a very complete annual cycle with regards sustainability”. Herrero points out “the responsible and respectful line, from an environmental point of view, that the event has followed every year” and recalls other activities included in this commitment such as “using Impacto 0 furniture in recent events, using certified paper in all promotional material, supporting collective transport and platform initiatives aimed at car-sharing such as  Comuto.es, to mention just a few.”

And most importantly, Expobioenergía's commitment is strengthened and renewed each year. “In this respect there will be new initiatives, I'm sure”, guarantees Herrero.