Blog

blog_energyefficienthome_header_01

Blog_EnergyEfficientHome_Header_01

Warming cool air allows it to circulate around your home &#8211; but this warm air can also escape if it lacks proper insulation. Escaped heating is a key driver of poor energy efficiency in homes. That is why we teamed up with subject experts to create some useful steps you can follow to conserve energy, by creating an energy efficient home. 
These changes can also help improve the energy rating of your home. There are a few different terms to grasp here, an EPC rating is specific for the UK, and stands for ‘Energy Performance Certificate’, and this is a record of your home&#8217;s likely fuel costs and carbon dioxide emissions, which is assessed by looking at the energy efficiency rating (EER). If you are based in Ireland, ‘Building Energy Rating’ also known as a BER, is the A to G rating given to homes based on the amount of energy it requires to complete the same tasks. A house that requires less energy is given a higher BER rating as it uses less carbon emissions. The key point to keep in mind is that, if your home uses less energy, it has a lower carbon footprint.
Usually properties with a high <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwrU_dqhbdo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EPC</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxdSF8-pj1o" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BER rating</a> are more expensive on the market, so there is also a long-term financial gain in building an energy efficient home. Being able to use less energy for the same tasks also means lower utility bills, therefore, indicating a short-term benefit as well.
So, how can you make changes to create a more energy efficient home? We spoke to <a href="https://www.stroma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stroma</a>’s Principal Building Control Surveyor, Stuart Hammond to find out.

blog_energyefficienthome_banner_01

Blog_EnergyEfficientHome_Banner_01

Ever thought about how igloos stay warm? It&#8217;s all to do with insulation, where the <a href="https://www.transun.co.uk/blogs/how-does-an-igloo-work" target="_blank" rel="noopener">compressed snow traps warm air inside</a>. Since most houses around the world are not built from snow, different types of insulation is required to prevent heat from escaping.

blog_energyefficienthome_subbanner_01a

Blog_EnergyEfficientHome_SubBanner_01a

Using seals around doors and windows can help block unwanted cold air from infiltrating your toasty home. Often these seals need to be replaced around the edge of your doorway and a double seal threshold strip at the bottom. Don’t forget to draught-proof your letterbox as well, with a seal on the outside and a brush on the inside. Controlled ventilation is equally important as it prevents <a href="http://www.energyenvoys.org.uk/sites/default/files/Draughts%20and%20Ventilation_0.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dampness and condensation</a>, by controlling the level of fresh air that enters your home. 
Have you checked your windows lately? If you have single glazed windows with a metal frame, you may want to upgrade to double or even triple glazing, with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkjZXSMedT4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">low-emissivity glass</a>. Again, trickle ventilation is important here to prevent condensation and the growth of mould. Therefore, it may be worth looking into control systems for vents. If you have holes in your window frames, you can also use a sealant which provides water resistance. 
Cold air can also enter your home through the chimney. So, if you have a <a href="https://checkappliance.co.uk/how-to-block-off-chimney-for-electric-fire/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fireplace but don’t use it for an open fire</a>, a draught excluder, such as a chimney plug or a balloon can help prevent cold air from lowering the temperature of your home.

blog_energyefficienthome_subbanner_02a

Blog_EnergyEfficientHome_SubBanner_02a

Did you know, <a href="https://www.eco-home-essentials.co.uk/best-insulation-for-homes.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">58% of heat</a> is said to be lost through the roof and walls. Therefore, investing in some insulation for your home can bring down your carbon footprint and bills considerably. To upgrade insulation in your loft, suspended floor or walls, you&#8217;ll need Building Regulation approval, so please ensure you contact an <a href="https://www.stroma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved inspector</a> for this.
To understand the type of wall insulation you require, you first need to evaluate whether you have solid walls (one layer of wall with no gaps) or cavity walls (a hollow centre dividing the two layers). Solid walls are insulated on the exterior or interior surface, whereas, with a cavity wall it is fitted into the hollow space between the two layers. A range of insulation materials can be used, but you should always speak to a specialist contractor to ensure that you’re preventing heat loss during harsh winters.
For loft insulation, you can use a range of different insulators with a <a href="https://www.wickes.co.uk/how-to-guides/home-maintenance/insulate-a-loft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recommended thickness of 270mm</a>, and loft insulation is usually fitted between the joists on the loft floor, with roof insulation placed between the tiles and rafters. The easiest way to increase the insulation in your home is to add it into your loft, here you can roll out mineral wool insulation in loft rolls in between your ceiling joists and over the top of them.

blog_energyefficienthome_subbanner_03a

Blog_EnergyEfficientHome_SubBanner_03a

Carpets can act as brilliant insulators for floors with fibres that have low thermal conductivity. So the thicker the carpet, the greater the insulation. To upgrade your floor insulation, you&#8217;ll need the floorboards to be removed to place netting or chicken wire under the joists, and mineral wool insulation between them.  A rug can instantly help insulate your floors, it won’t be as effective as a thick carpet or insulation under your floorboards, but it will most definitely help.

blog_energyefficienthome_banner_02

Blog_EnergyEfficientHome_Banner_02

Installing a smart meter can help you keep track of your energy consumption and the cost of utilities at the same time. There are also smart thermostats that you can download on your phone to track this anywhere in your house. Lowering your thermostat by just one degree can cut your heating bill by 10% and you won’t even feel the difference. 
Upgrading your radiators with thermostatic controls can help gain more control over what rooms you’d like to heat and what rooms you don’t need to. Curtains help to retain the level of heat in homes by limiting the flow of air. However, make sure you don’t cover the thermostatic controls on the radiators with your curtains, as this prevents the sensor from picking up the flow of air. It also interrupts the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkjZXSMedT4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">process of convection</a> that draws cold air from the bottom and releases hot air from the top. You should also pull your furniture away from the radiators to allow the hot air to flow freely. A heat reflector foil can be placed behind the radiator to prevent heat from escaping as it reflects it back into the room.

blog_energyefficienthome_banner_03

Blog_EnergyEfficientHome_Banner_03

Small changes can make a huge difference&#8230;even at the switch of a button!

blog_energyefficienthome_subbanner_04a

Blog_EnergyEfficientHome_SubBanner_04a

If 80% of lights are switched to <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/326085/Lighting_Report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">low energy light bulbs by 2024</a>, a whopping 230 kWh/year will be saved on average per household. To make the switch, perhaps invest in LED bulbs as they use a lot less energy than incandescent or fluorescent lights. These may cost more upfront but over time you’ll accumulate less expenses. Switching off lights when leaving a room seems rather simple, but remembering to do so will make a huge difference. 
Depending on location, you can also install solar panels on your roof, which produce renewable energy from the sun. In some cases excess power created by you can be fed into the power network for others to use.

blog_energyefficienthome_subbanner_05a

Blog_EnergyEfficientHome_SubBanner_05a

Remember to switch off/unplug any electrical appliances that are not in use. If you find yourself leaving electrical appliances on stand-by, you can use a smart power strip or a plug-in timer for appliances such as the TV, in case you fall asleep on the sofa.

blog_energyefficienthome_subbanner_06a

Blog_EnergyEfficientHome_SubBanner_06a

Switching to lower temperatures when washing your clothes can help conserve energy. In fact, opting to run your machine at <a href="https://www.ariel.co.uk/en-gb/about-ariel/sustainability/your-commitment-how-you-can-save-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">30°C instead of 40°C</a>, can lower energy consumption by 60% per load. Avoid washing your clothes when your drum is not ¾ full, as this will mean more loads are required for the same amount of clothes. You can also switch from using the tumble dryer to air drying your clothes on a drying rack or on a washing line.
You can avoid adding large pots and pans into the dishwasher to prevent using the machine more times than needed. When washing dishes by hand, a washing bowl can help save the amount of water you use. Furthermore, you can also install water saving taps that reduce the flow of water by combining it with air, cutting your water consumption dramatically. 
Fridge/freezers are often ranked as one of the <a href="https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/top-five-energy-consuming-home-appliances/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">highest energy consuming home appliances</a>, accounting for around 12% of average household bills. Seals around the edge of fridge/freezer doors act as barriers between the warm air in your home and the cool air circulating around the fridge. Often these can become loose, break and even have cracks, so it may be worth checking to see if they need to be cleaned or replaced entirely. Controlling the temperature inside the appliance using controls and ensuring the seals are working properly can help preserve the excess energy that is used to keep the contents inside fresh. Upgrading to an energy efficient model could potentially help slash your <a href="https://www.beko.com/bn-en/support/fridge-freezer--using--article/11-ways-to-improve-your-refrigerator%27s-energy-efficiency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">energy bills in half</a>, reducing your carbon footprint considerably.
There are lots of options available for creating an energy efficient home, and remember to always consult an expert before undertaking any structural work. 
&nbsp;
<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://x.ecologi.com/plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://x.ecologi.com/plan" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">Sign up today</a> to join Ecologi and help make the world a little greener!

carbon_compensation_vs_contribution_blog_header

Carbon_Compensation_Vs_Contribution_Blog_Header

Carbon Compensation vs. Contribution - What’s the difference?

Climate change is a topic that many of us are discussing at work each day. You may have heard terms such as ‘carbon compensation’ or ‘contribution’ being used in conversations about how to take meaningful action against climate change, but what do they actually mean, and how do they differ from one another? 
We regularly speak to businesses who have similar questions and in this guide, we’ll break it all down. Here’s a quick run-through of what we will cover:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What are the definitions of carbon compensation and contribution?</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What is the purpose of each approach?</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What mechanisms do both approaches utilise? </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What types of projects do they involve?</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What types of certification are associated with each approach?</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What kind of costs are associated with each approach?</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What role do they play in achieving net zero?</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What are examples of each?</li>
</ul>

carbon_compensation_vs_contribution_blog_banner_definition

Carbon_Compensation_Vs_Contribution_Blog_Banner_Definition

<h2>Definitions of carbon compensation and contribution</h2>
 
Carbon Compensation
Carbon compensation refers to the idea of balancing out a certain amount of carbon emissions by investing in projects that prevent or remove an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide elsewhere. This tonne-for-tonne ‘balancing’ or ‘offsetting’ is compensatory.
 
Contribution
This approach focuses on separating financial contributions from any compensatory claims. Instead, it involves directing funding to projects that will support global net-zero and nature restoration – but crucially without making compensatory claims. <a href="https://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/join?utm_feeditemid=&amp;utm_device=c&amp;utm_term=one%20percent%20for%20the%20planet&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=ppc&amp;utm_campaign=&amp;hsa_cam=20766754741&amp;hsa_grp=155667469859&amp;hsa_mt=b&amp;hsa_src=g&amp;hsa_ad=680329727495&amp;hsa_acc=%7B8900384824%7D&amp;hsa_net=adwords&amp;hsa_kw=one%20percent%20for%20the%20planet&amp;hsa_tgt=kwd-299092657918&amp;hsa_ver=3&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwooq3BhB3EiwAYqYoEs0haU6oWnJZze5_b4QrYSQvdqPvXRSRdMCOrjloCv_URVN-RaIXIBoChu8QAvD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1% Percent For the Planet </a>is an example of this kind of scheme.

carbon_compensation_vs_contribution_blog_banner_purpose-1

Carbon_Compensation_Vs_Contribution_Blog_Banner_Purpose (1)

<h2>What is the purpose of carbon compensation and contribution</h2>
 
Carbon Compensation
Compensation is aimed at achieving a ‘carbon-neutral’ status by offsetting specific emissions through equivalent carbon reduction elsewhere.
 
Contribution
Contribution focuses on supporting and financing sustainability projects and initiatives to encourage environmental stewardship, without associating this with compensation for emissions.

carbon_compensation_vs_contribution_blog_banner_mechanism

Carbon_Compensation_Vs_Contribution_Blog_Banner_Mechanism

<h2>What mechanisms do carbon compensation and contribution utilise?</h2>
Carbon Compensation
Compensation is carbon-centric and relies on detailed measurement and verification processes to ensure that the projects avoid or remove the claimed amount of CO2. Whilst projects may have ‘co-benefits’, project quality and credit utility is predicated on whether the carbon dioxide benefit is being delivered.
 
Contribution
Contribution is not predicated on carbon dioxide. It involves making donations to strategic funds which are designed to produce a range of benefits for net-zero and nature restoration – but may not require rigorous CO2 measurement or verification, but other kinds of monitoring and reporting are essential to ensure benefits are being realised.

carbon_compensation_vs_contribution_blog_banner_projecttypes

Carbon_Compensation_Vs_Contribution_Blog_Banner_ProjectTypes

<h2>What types of projects do carbon compensation and contribution involve?</h2>
 
Carbon Compensation
Compensation is limited to projects which generate carbon credits,  typically those that are issued to an ICROA-endorsed carbon standard like Verra, Gold Standard or Puro. It includes projects such as afforestation, blue carbon removal, landfill gas, cleaner water systems and enhanced rock weathering.
 
Contribution
Contribution can include carbon credit-issuing projects but is not limited to them. Other projects that can be financed include funding for environmental research, habitat restoration, conservation programs, reforestation projects, educational initiatives, and donations to NGOs working on climate action.

carbon_compensation_vs_contribution_blog_banner_certification

Carbon_Compensation_Vs_Contribution_Blog_Banner_Certification

<h2>What type of certification is associated with carbon compensation and contribution?</h2>
 
Carbon Compensation: 
Carbon compensation requires third-party verification and certification by bodies such as the Gold Standard, Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Puro to ensure the credibility of carbon credits. 
 
Contribution:
Contribution typically does not require certification as it is focused on voluntary financial support for environmental causes. However, reputable organisations receiving contributions may provide transparency reports or impact statements.

carbon_compensation_vs_contribution_blog_banner_cost

Carbon_Compensation_Vs_Contribution_Blog_Banner_Cost

<h2>What kind of costs are associated with carbon compensation and contribution?</h2>
 
Carbon Compensation: 
Costs for carbon compensation vary depending on the project type and verification costs. The price per tonne of CO2 offset can differ significantly with some being much more expensive than others.
 
Contribution: 
Contribution is usually more flexible when it comes to costs. This is because the focus is on voluntary contributions towards environmental outcomes,  rather than compensating for a specific amount of emissions.

carbon_compensation_vs_contribution_blog_banner_role

Carbon_Compensation_Vs_Contribution_Blog_Banner_Role

<h2>What role do carbon compensation and contribution play in achieving net zero?</h2>
 
Carbon Compensation:
The <a href="https://sciencebasedtargets.org/net-zero" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SBTi’s Net-Zero Standard</a> specifies that businesses must achieve a minimum 90% reduction in emissions on their path to net-zero &#8211; at which point a compensatory approach can be applied for the remaining &lt;10% of emissions which cannot be reduced directly. In this case, compensation is limited to carbon removals only, not carbon avoidance credits. To understand the difference between carbon avoidance and removal credits, <a href="https://x.ecologi.com/articles/blog/carbon-removals-vs-carbon-avoidance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">read our blog post here.</a>
 
Contribution:
The SBTi also promotes ‘beyond value chain mitigation’ known as BVCM. This involves a company funding climate action to support global net-zero efforts. BVCM does not count towards the organisation’s own corporate net-zero goals, however, the SBTi considers it “urgent and essential” that businesses contribute to global climate action outside of their value chain.

carbon_compensation_vs_contribution_blog_banner_examples

Carbon_Compensation_Vs_Contribution_Blog_Banner_Examples

<h2>Examples of carbon compensation and contribution</h2>
 
Carbon Compensation:
A company offsets its annual carbon emissions by investing in carbon credits from a landfill methane capture project that prevents an equivalent volume of emissions.
Contribution: 
A company contributes to an environmental project that works on biodiversity conservation, without claiming an offset of its own emissions. Instead, the company reports on how much it contributed, and the outcomes intended, and monitors the project’s progress over time.

<h2>Conclusion</h2>
In summary, Carbon Compensation focuses on the idea of ‘balancing’ or ‘offsetting’ emissions through purchasing carbon credits. The credits purchased are often used to offset emissions generated by businesses.  Contribution focuses on funding projects that support global net-zero goals without compensatory claims. Through supporting a contribution model, you can support a wide range of projects all offering crucial co-benefits, and in some cases, credit-issuing projects too. 
Both approaches play a critical role in supporting climate action. The Oxford Principles for Aligned Net Zero recommend a combination of carbon compensation (durable removals only)  and contribution to help maximise impact. At Ecologi, we believe that while both have their merits, prioritising high-quality, holistic climate action through a contribution-based approach is the best way to support global net-zero efforts and future-proof your sustainability strategy. This is why we created <a href="https://x.ecologi.com/business/ecologi-impact-funds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Impact Funds</a> &#8211; to allow our customers to support a wide range of projects that contribute to a particular climate goal.

<h2>Why did you create Impact Funds?</h2>
Our industry is moving and evolving all the time in an effort to reach global Net Zero goals and at Ecologi we witnessed the challenges firsthand through our Impact Partners, below is a quote from our Impact Partnerships Manager, Katie; 
<blockquote>At Ecologi, our partners were extracting tree-planting costs from a wider landscape restoration project because that’s what the market wanted. We need to change this &#8211; and educate the market on the solutions our planet needs.</blockquote>
Contribution models are increasingly focused on outcomes rather than inputs and go beyond metrics such as carbon credits purchased, or the number of trees planted. These projects produce a host of diverse impacts that aren’t being captured by single metrics. Supporting projects such as landscape restoration focused on the wider strategy &#8211; in addition to tree planting, landscape restoration captures co-benefits such as increased biodiversity, improved soil health, and reduced pollution.
Interested to learn more? <a href="https://info.ecologi.com/ecologi-impact-funds/get-started" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Get in touch to find out more about our Impact Funds</a>.

Speak to our team. We're here to help you find your perfect climate solution.

Case studies

blog_case_study_biopak_header

Blog_Case_Study_BioPak_Header

Case Study: BioPak UK

<h2>About BioPak UK</h2>
A world without waste. That’s the mission of BioPak, and they’re working hard to achieve it. By disrupting the current take, make, waste model, BioPak’s sustainable food packaging solutions are leading the way to a truly circular economy.
Founded in 2006, BioPak has become a globally recognised brand, loved by businesses and consumers across Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the US, Hong Kong and Singapore.
BioPak’s packaging solutions are designed to be better for our planet. They use renewable plant-based materials that are sourced responsibly. To promote responsible disposal of their packaging, BioPak encourages composting through their Compost Connect scheme—a not-for-profit initiative that connects customers to compost pick-up services.

blog_case_study_biopak_banner_initiatives

Blog_Case_Study_BioPak_Banner_Initiatives

BioPak is better for people too. The company is B Corp certified and donates 5% of all profits to positive change via their Give Back Fund. BioPak is a business that’s truly committed to the principles of the Triple Bottom Line: People, Planet, and Profit.

blog_case_study_biopak_banner_stats

Blog_Case_Study_BioPak_Banner_Stats

<h2>Issue</h2>
BioPak’s commitment to combating climate change is unwavering. Having been carbon neutral certified for over a decade, in 2022 the team took the strategic decision to shift away from carbon-neutrality, and instead focus on emissions reduction.
This decision wasn’t taken lightly, but they recognised the need to move beyond mere carbon offsetting. They view it as a leap forward rather than a step back, and a move to create a more substantial positive influence on the planet. 
The team believes that understanding their total carbon footprint is vital. They are dedicated to clarifying the sources of their emissions, which span the entire product lifecycle, encompassing offices, product transportation, packaging production, raw material extraction, and end-of-life emissions.
BioPak uses an independent third party to measure their carbon footprint, cost to the environment (including impact on biodiversity, human health, climate change and material scarcity) and lifecycle phases of their products. This is done to enhance transparency, accountability and demonstrate their commitment to combating greenwashing.
BioPak is serious about combating climate change, with reducing carbon emissions being crucial in achieving this goal. A key part of this goal is supporting industrial composting through the Compost Connect scheme. The team is committed to diverting food waste and compostable packaging from landfill and incineration by making compost facilities more accessible across Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
Working together with customers, BioPak truly believes it can pave the way for a more sustainable world for future generations.

<h2>Challenges</h2>
As a B Corp and leader in sustainable food packaging, the team at BioPak feels a keen obligation for environmental stewardship. They describe BioPak as a “profit for purpose business”, and as such are driven to preserve and protect the environment while giving back to the communities in which they operate. 
To honour this obligation, BioPak set up its Give Back Fund in 2012, and since then have dedicated their time and energy to partnering with leading environmental and social charities to bring about positive change. So far they have donated a total of £2,495,352.
In the last decade, BioPak’s commitment to Australian environmental conservation has flourished through a partnership with Rainforest Rescue, which has planted and safeguarded 95,720 trees and reclaimed eight hectares of endangered Daintree Rainforest.

<h2>Solution </h2>
BioPak donates 1% of all profits to community and environmental projects, and here in the UK we’re proud that Ecologi has been chosen to support that commitment through tree planting. The team firmly believes that tree planting is a powerful solution that produces oxygen, stores carbon, and helps tackle climate change.
BioPak’s reforestation work with Ecologi underpins a global commitment to ecological restoration. This ambitious initiative is a cornerstone of BioPak’s corporate responsibility ethos, aiming to not only mitigate the impacts of climate change but also foster local biodiversity, enhance soil health, and support local communities in achieving sustainable development goals.
Working with Ecologi proves BioPak’s cast iron commitment to the environment, and in turn boosts its credibility, enhances its brand reputation and helps its customers make a positive impact. The team regularly communicates their sustainability milestones with customers and colleagues alike, through impact certificate, emails and internal communications.

blog_case_study_biopak_banner_profile

Blog_Case_Study_BioPak_Banner_Profile

<h2>Outcome</h2>
Since 2021 BioPak has planted 102,479 trees with Ecologi, and the team plans to continue to regularly donate to increase this figure as much as they can. 
As a profit-for-purpose business, BioPak’s commitment to protecting the environment is vital in retaining current customers and attracting new customers, who are looking to make a positive impact through their supply chain. The Give Back Fund, and the work with partners like Ecologi, remains a fundamental part of BioPak’s brand messaging and ethos.
Sam Walker, Technical Director at BioPak UK, said:
<blockquote>It&#8217;s great to partner with Ecologi and support both the large scale reforestation projects they do and the more grass roots initiatives which really make a difference locally&#8230; Reforestation and habitat restoration are the foundations of reversing biodiversity loss and critical in the fight against climate change. We&#8217;re proud to work with Ecologi and share the impact data with our customers.</blockquote>

blog_case_study_biopak_banner_quote

Blog_Case_Study_BioPak_Banner_Quote

<h2>Is your business ready to take climate action?</h2>
If this article has inspired your business to start its climate journey, talk to our team today.

blog_impactshop_transactional_header

Blog_ImpactShop_Transactional_Header

At Ecologi we believe in transparency, which is why, when we make changes, we want to let you know.
As of Tuesday 1st October 2024, we will be making a few changes to the Ecologi Impact Shop, including discontinuing some projects, as well as adding new ones and changing our prices slightly. 
Keep reading to find out more, or jump to the section on <a href="#customers">What these changes mean for our customers</a>, or our <a href="#faqs">FAQs</a>.

<h2>Update to our ‘Carbon avoidance’ project</h2>
We will be removing our generic ‘<a href="https://x.ecologi.com/impact-shop/support-carbon-avoidance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Carbon avoidance</a>’ product from the Impact Shop, and replacing it with a new type of carbon avoidance project, which specifically supports landfill methane capture. This project is among the first in the world to receive the CCP-Approved quality label from the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM).
<h3>Why are we making this change?</h3>
In June of this year, the ICVCM, an independent governance body dedicated to establishing a global benchmark for high-quality carbon credits, <a href="https://icvcm.org/integrity-council-announces-first-high-integrity-ccp-labelled-carbon-credits-as-assessments-continue/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced the first carbon-crediting methodologies</a> that meet its high-integrity Core Carbon Principles (CCPs).
As part of this, the ICVCM have applied its ‘CCP-Approved’ label to a variety of projects that tackle potent greenhouse gases by capturing methane from landfill sites (like our supported <a href="https://x.ecologi.com/projects/avoiding-methane-emissions-from-landfill-in-brazil" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Macaubas LFG project</a>), and by destroying ozone-depleting foams and refrigerant gases from discarded equipment such as refrigerators and air conditioners.
We have been supporting landfill gas projects through our platform since our early days, including some of these first projects which have received this ICVCM stamp of approval. Effective on 1st October 2024, we are replacing the general ‘support carbon avoidance projects’ product on our Impact Shop, to specifically support these newly CCP-Approved landfill methane capture projects.

<h2>Discontinuation of our ‘Renewable energy carbon avoidance’ project</h2>
In addition, we will be removing the ‘<a href="https://x.ecologi.com/impact-shop/support-renewable-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Renewable energy carbon avoidance</a>’ product from our Impact Shop. The ICVCM recently decided it would not award the existing renewable energy credit methodologies its CCP-Approved label, so we’ve opted to preemptively stop offering these on our platform. For additional insight into this decision, we encourage you to read our <a href="#faqs">FAQs</a> further down on this page.
<h3>Why are we making this change?</h3>
One of the next decisions made by the ICVCM as part of its assessment of carbon credit methodologies was to acknowledge that existing renewable energy generation credit methodologies do not meet the standard to achieve CCP-Approval. 
One key reason these methodologies don’t meet the CCP-Approved criteria is that the methodologies themselves fail to meet the stringent requirements for additionality, a key factor in ensuring that carbon credits represent genuine emissions reductions that wouldn&#8217;t have occurred without the carbon finance. See this quote from Sylvera on what additionality refers to: 
<blockquote>Additionality refers to the causal relationship between the project&#8217;s activities and the climate benefits it claims including the risk of the project over-crediting. A project is considered additional if the project activities would not have occurred without the revenue from a voluntary carbon credit. The additionality score is a function of how likely it is that the project is additional, and how likely it is that the project is over-crediting on the carbon avoidance or removal it is delivering.</blockquote>
Ecologi has always had a regionalised approach to our impact, consistently applying additional scrutiny to the projects we elect to support through our platform. Only six renewable energy projects are currently eligible for receipt of funding from our platform – out of an estimated &gt;2,200 renewable energy projects on the voluntary carbon market. Our careful selection process has ensured that we consider not only the type of project but also its specific implementation location.
For example, we have deliberately chosen not to fund large hydroelectric dams due to their associated social and environmental risks and we have generally steered clear of offshore wind projects, favouring onshore wind solutions that are more appropriate for the regions we support. We have always prioritised those situated in areas where the energy grid is still heavily reliant on fossil fuels, such as Morocco and Mexico, to maximise impact as much as possible.
This all said, following the ICVCM’s ruling on renewables, we have made the decision to stop offering renewable energy carbon credits via our Impact Shop.
We believe it is a good thing that the ICVCM is rejecting certain methodologies from receiving its high-quality label. This rigorous approach is necessary to maintain and improve the integrity of the carbon market – to raise the quality of projects across the board – and to ensure that all participants can trust that their investments are driving real, additional climate benefits.

<h2>Updates to pricing on the Impact Shop</h2>
Finally, on October 1st we will be updating pricing across our Impact Shop to reflect recent changes in market prices, and as a result some of our products will be cheaper to support.
<h3>Why are we making this change?</h3>
As part of our commitment to staying aligned with the evolving voluntary carbon market and providing the best prices we can to customers, we are also adjusting our pricing structure. To better reflect current market prices, we have reviewed and updated all the prices for carbon projects, some of which have reduced in price slightly. We are pleased to report that none of our existing projects have increased in price.
Pricing in the carbon market is dynamic, influenced by a variety of factors including regulatory updates, market demand, geographies, ratings, and broader project qualities. We aim to stay responsive to these changes and ensure that our offerings continue to provide value to all stakeholders involved, from project developers to buyers and the communities benefiting from these projects.
As an impact-driven organisation who put planet first, we want to ensure that we are responsive to the market and our customers are getting the best deal for the impact they want to support.

<h2>What do these changes mean for our customers?</h2>
There are no direct actions that our customers will need to take in light of these changes.
As of October 1st you will notice that our generic ‘<a href="https://x.ecologi.com/impact-shop/support-carbon-avoidance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Carbon avoidance</a>’ project and our ‘<a href="https://x.ecologi.com/impact-shop/support-renewable-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Renewable energy carbon avoidance</a>’ project will no longer be available on the Impact Shop. You will also notice that our new CCP-Approved landfill gas capture project will be available to support, and that the price of some of our existing projects have decreased slightly.

3 steps to creating an energy efficient home

STEP 1: Seal the gaps

STEP 2: Take control

STEP 3: Make the switch

More posts

Carbon Compensation vs. Contribution: what’s the difference?

Case study: How BioPak UK is engaging customers and leading the way to a world without waste

Upcoming changes to the Ecologi Impact Shop

Stay in touch with Ecologi