10 WESTERN PALLET
Bridging the Gap
Sustainability Is No Longer A Buzzword—It’s A Necessity
with Kat Vasquez
Hey Industry Trailblazers! In this month’s installment, I’d like to bridge the gap between sustainability and the reason it’s become a part of our businesses more and more. My sustainability journey within our industry began exactly a year ago when I first encountered the term "carbon credits." Since then, I’ve gone down the sustainability rabbit hole more than I ever imagined.
I've always been conscientious about recycling everything I could as a consumer. But I realized that this approach was more reactive than proactive. According to Earth Action’s 2024 Plastic Overshoot Day Report, 220 million tons of plastic waste will be generated this year, with nearly 70 million tons ending up in nature due to the imbalance between plastic consumption and waste management capacity. Plastic waste has increased by 7.11% since 2021.
Recycling is just one part of the equation—it falls under the pillar of waste reduction. So, why is reducing waste crucial? It helps protect the environment by preventing pollution, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and preserving natural resources. Plus, think about the time and energy we waste repeating the same consumption patterns every single day.
The Link Between Recycling (Reducing Waste) and Carbon Credits
Waste Reduction Reduces Emissions
Reducing waste means consuming fewer products, which lowers the demand for manufacturing. This, in turn, reduces the greenhouse gas emissions associated with resource extraction, manufacturing processes, and transportation. Additionally, landfills are significant sources of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. By reducing waste, we send less to landfills, thereby decreasing methane emissions.
Carbon Credits Incentivize Emission Reductions
Companies develop technologies to capture CO2 from the air and securely store it (think planting trees, direct air capture, converting CO2 into rock, and more). Independent organizations verify these removals and issue carbon credits—each credit represents one ton of CO2 permanently removed. These credits are sold to companies or individuals who want to offset their emissions, creating a balance.
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Why Do Carbon Credits Exist?
Because of the hefty global goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050, as laid out in the Paris Agreement of 2015. The aim is to limit global warming to below 2°C, ideally 1.5°C. The IPCC backs this target, stating it's crucial to hit net zero by 2050 to prevent severe climate impacts. Now, it’s a global target adopted by countries, cities, and businesses.
A Simple Analogy
Imagine the atmosphere as a giant bathtub. We keep adding CO2 (from burning fossil fuels, etc.), and it's overflowing, causing climate change. To fix this, we need to do two things:
Turn down the tap: Reduce our emissions (electrify transportation, transition to renewable energy sources, protect nature, clean up industry, etc.).
Drain the tub: Remove existing CO2 from the atmosphere (carbon capture and storage).
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Kat Vasquez, Contributing Writer