One would think that a nursery – by virtue of the fact that its business is trees – is ‘green’ by default. But take into account factors such as the electricity, fuel, fertilizer, containers, plastic bags, paper and transport that are required to produce trees and, like any other product, a container-grown tree can tread heavily on the Earth in terms of the carbon footprint it leaves behind.
For the second year in a row Just Trees in Paarl is taking steps to ensure that the trees they are selling carry no residual carbon footprint. They conducted an internal assessment and then calculated their carbon footprint under the guidelines set out in the GHG Protocol. This was then reviewed by experienced carbon footprint analysts all regulated by The Carbon Protocol South Africa
It was determined that Just Trees generated 477 tons of CO2e for the financial year ending 28th Feb 2011. Initially taking steps to reduce their emissions (for example, by decreasing energy use, being water-wise and improving on transport efficiencies), Just Trees offset their remaining carbon footprint through the donation of 1 274 trees to Food & Trees for Africa, who planted the trees in the Western Cape, subsequently rendering Just Trees carbon neutral
Says Carl Pretorius, Managing Director of Just Trees, "In these times where people and our earth are facing extreme weather conditions, pollution problems and social upheaval, the very least we can do as a business is the be environmentally conscious. Planting trees through the "Trees for Homes" project not only maintains Just Trees carbon neutral status, but also helps green the environment in less advantaged areas. This in itself has many positive social spin-offs!"
274 trees were being delivered to Goedgedacht and a further 1 000 trees were distributed to the lucky residents of the barren settlement of Mbekweni in the Western Cape in October 2011 thanks to Just Trees
“These 1 274 trees will sequester a conservative 477 tons of carbon dioxide and contribute to another 32 hectares of urban forest, contributing greatly to the Greening of South Africa,” according to Katja Janicke, Trees for Homes programme manager.
The first distribution of 200 trees took place on 8 October at 8:30am at the Thusong Centre, Mbekweni. A larger event was held at 12:30pm on the same day at the Enrichment Centre, 27 Mfuleni Street, Wellington where 400 trees were distributed. The remaining 400 trees were distributed from the Rainbow Crêche in Groenheuwel.
