BLOG6 min

&Open goes greener

Reducing our carbon footprint and treading lightly in 2023.

Tomas O'Donovan, Director of Logistics and Sustainability Lead6 min2024-09-11

Deep dive into our categories

Better gifts mean less waste

At &Open, fostering connections and building a better future goes beyond the gifting experiences we curate. We believe in leaving a lighter footprint on the planet, aligning with our core value of “treading lightly”.

As a certified B-Corp, we're held to the highest standards of environmental and social responsibility. Today, we are thrilled to share some exciting news: we have successfully reduced our carbon footprint, recording a significant reduction in 2023 compared to our baseline year of 2022.

We have achieved a reduction in absolute emissions by 24% (the total amount of greenhouse gasses released into the atmosphere) and in emission intensity by 5% (emissions per unit of output). This is a significant step forward on our sustainability journey, and we’re incredibly proud of the progress we've made.

24% reduction in absolute emissions in 2023 as well as emission intensity by 5%.

Why does our carbon footprint matter?

Climate change is the defining challenge of our generation. Greenhouse gas emissions, primarily from burning fossil fuels, are causing the planet to warm at an alarming rate. This has a domino effect on our environment, leading to rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and disruptions to ecosystems.

By calculating and reducing our carbon footprint, we're actively minimizing our contribution to climate change. This not only benefits the planet but also aligns with the values of our customers who are increasingly seeking to work with more eco-conscious partners.

How did we achieve this reduction?

Our commitment to sustainability is multifaceted. Below are some key initiatives that contributed to our reduced carbon footprint:

  • Sustainable sourcing: Our supply chain, and the procurement of our goods, is the largest contributor to our carbon footprint, and are a part of our Scope 3 emissions. This is an area where we saw significant reductions in 2023 by shifting some of our procurement and encouraging our customers to gift from categories which leave a lighter footprint, such as locally based suppliers.
  • Downstream transportation: By better utilizing our global warehousing network, we have managed to reduce the footprint we leave when delivering gifts to our happy end recipients.
  • Business travel: In 2023, we reduced the number of business trips, while also encouraging staff to use more sustainable transport options such as rail and electric vehicles while traveling.

Looking ahead: continuous improvement and leaving a lighter footprint

While we’re excited about the progress we have made in reducing our carbon footprint, we are not stopping here. Sustainability is a continuous journey, and we’re committed to ongoing improvement. Here's what to expect from &Open in the future:

  • Offsetting emissions: While minimizing emissions is our primary goal, we recognize some are unavoidable. We're proud to partner with Patch to offset these remaining emissions. Patch supports high-quality carbon offset projects that invest in renewable energy sources, tree planting initiatives, and other activities that remove greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere.
  • Collaboration: We believe in the power of collaboration to tackle climate change. We'll continue to work with our partners, such as PlanA, to develop a comprehensive plan on decarbonisation.
  • Transparency: We'll continue to share our progress on sustainability initiatives, including future carbon footprint calculations and the impact of our reduction efforts.

By making conscious choices and embracing sustainable practices, we can all make a difference. At &Open, we're committed to leading by example and empowering others to join us on this journey.

Better gifts mean less waste

Want to learn more?

If you're interested in learning more about our commitment to sustainability or exploring our curated selection of eco-conscious gifts, visit our website. We're happy to answer any questions and help you find the gifts that align with your values. Together, we can make a difference and leave a lighter footprint.

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