Carbon Neutral Ceramics

Measure, offset, reset

Our carbon neutral journey

Measure

What’s in a carbon footprint?

Calculating your true carbon footprint requires a certified Greenhouse Gas accounting expert. We partnered with South Pole to evaluate all our GHG emissions using operational data from the last financial year. This meant accounting for everything from the electricity that fires our kilns to the transport our staff take to get to work each day. The total number reflects the metric tonnes of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (C02) produced by Mud Australia in one year.

So what’s our carbon footprint?

South Pole calculated a total GHG emissions of 1074.91 metric tonnes of C02e between July 2019 – June 2020. Our largest areas of emissions were electricity, freight and travel. The audit has not only allowed us to precisely offset our emissions but evaluate areas of improvement for years to come.

How does our carbon footprint measure up?

For perspective, 1074.91 tonnes of C02 equates to either:
— driving 232 cars for one year
— power 182 homes with electricity for one year
— charging 137,086,661 smart phones

(Source: epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator, 2020)

Reduce

On review of our GHG accounting report provided by South Pole, we have recognised opportunities to reduce our emissions in the below areas.

Freight

29% of our emissions

FY 19/20 Freight Carbon Footprint

Road 45.91 tC02e
Sea 19.45 tC02e
Air 127.35 tC02

Reduction Action

A shift from air to sea freight for large scale stock deliveries and the option to ‘click&collect’ goods purchased online from our studio.

Base building electricity

17.7% of our emissions

Reduction Action

Installation of 100kW commercial solar panels in our new studio space with an annual target reduction of 6.78%.

Air travel

5.2% of our emissions

Reduction Action

Reducing international transport by our digital communications with our global stores.

Offset

Mud Australia’s entire carbon footprint was offset through carbon credits certified to internationally recognised standards.

Some of the projects we support include forest protection and renewable energy projects, including:

Mount Sandy Conservation, South Australia

The re-vegetation project Mount Sandy Conservation, a project that brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities working across land management in the rare pockets of wetlands of the Coorong National Park and Lake Albert. The land is a significant wildlife corridor and of great importance to the local Ngarrindjeri people.

Image: Mount Sandy Conservation, photo courtesy of South Pole

Myamyn Lowland Forest Conservation, Victoria

The Myamyn Lowland Forest Conservation project works across native revegetation in Victoria’s Annya State Forest. This project enhances biodiversity and habitats for vulnerable native species including the brown bandicoot, powerful owl and long-nosed potoroo.

Image: Myamyn Lowland Forest Conservation, photo courtesy of South Pole

The Conservation Fund’s Garcia River Project, California

We also chose an American offset project, given our presence in the US. We have invested in The Conservation Fund’s Garcia River Project, a Californian project which is the first large non-profit owned sustainable timber harvesting operation. The project has provided local jobs, protected nearly 10,000 hectares of ancient forests and improved the habitat for rare wildlife including the Northern spotted owl.

Image: Californian Redwood Garcia River Forest Protection Program, photo courtesy of The Conservation Fund