Join Us on Our Green Adventure: The Yan's Carbon Footprint and Our Journey to a Greener Tomorrow
Welcome to The Yan's Carbon Footprint Report, a collaborative effort, with the expertise of Laura Giles from Eco-I NW in partnership with Cumbria University. In this report, we unveil our journey towards a more sustainable future, examining our carbon footprint for 2022 and the innovative steps we're taking to reduce our environmental impact. Join us in our quest to embrace eco-friendly practices, reduce emissions, and create a greener tomorrow for all.
We, at The Yan at Broadrayne Farm, wanted to give you a friendly rundown of our Greenhouse Gas Report. We believe in keeping things light and cheerful, even when talking about important matters like climate change.
Now, you might be wondering what's all the fuss about? Well, it's climate change my friend. It's that pressing global issue that's capturing everyone's attention. Our planet is heating up, and unfortunately, humans have a big role to play in this. But the silver lining is that there's a collective effort to address the problem. Governments, businesses, and even small farms like ours are getting involved.
So, let's dive into the numbers. In 2022, our annual carbon footprint was estimated at 72.96 tonnes of CO2e. It might sound like a lot, but we've broken it down for you. About half of those emissions come from burning biomass to keep things warm and toasty. Electricity from the grid is responsible for 42%* and our embodied carbon make up 4.2% of the total. Waste management, log-burning stoves, and a few miscellaneous factors take up the rest of the pie.
But rest assured, we're not sitting idly. We're all about sustainability and social responsibility. We've made some great strides to reduce our carbon footprint. We've switched to a biomass boiler, use renewable electricity, and even offer electric vehicle charging points. We're also passionate about recycling, composting, and sourcing locally. Oh, and we've bid farewell to single-use plastic in our establishment. We're committed to taking environmental matters seriously!
We're excited to share that we partnered with the University of Cumbria to better understand our carbon footprint and work towards reducing our environmental impact. We believe in keeping our customers and everyone else in the loop about our eco-friendly efforts. Our goal? To run our business as sustainably as possible and continue to make positive steps forward, however small, to ensuring the preservation of this beautiful place we call home.
* 2023 saw the addition of Solar Power to our onsite renewable energy sources, generating up to 50% of our farm electricity usage.
Now, about the tourism industry. It turns out it's a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for about 8% of global emissions. While tourism slowed down during the COVID-19 pandemic, it's expected to make a strong comeback. That's why it's crucial for the industry to grow sustainably, without harming our planet.
The accommodation sector, just like ours at The Yan, can be quite the energy guzzler. Hotels and similar establishments operate 24/7, offering a variety of services. There isn't an abundance of research on their carbon footprint, especially in the UK, which makes it a bit tricky to draw comparisons.
Measuring and reporting carbon emissions is currently in vogue. It allows businesses to identify where they excel and where improvements are needed. In our report, you'll find three types of emissions: direct emissions, like burning materials on-site; indirect emissions from energy purchases, such as electricity; and other indirect emissions connected to our supply chain. It's a comprehensive package deal!
We're dedicated to sustainability. We've implemented energy and environmental management policies and are continually working on reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. We're also enthusiastic about waste recycling, we've removed single-use plastics from our premises, and even our furniture is made from reclaimed materials. This report is our way of calculating our current carbon emissions and setting our sights on a greener future.
The methodology section delves into the fine details of how we calculated our carbon footprint. We've considered everything, from electricity consumption to biomass fuel, and even deliveries of consumables. We've excluded a few things, such as food composting and customer travel, to ensure the report's accuracy.
Speaking of accuracy, we've done our best to gather precise data, but there's always a bit of uncertainty. Some estimates had to be made, especially for items like furniture and appliances. The emissions factors we used are official government figures. It's like putting together a puzzle, and we've assembled the pieces to the best of our ability.
So, there you have it. We, at The Yan at Broadrayne Farm, are wholeheartedly dedicated to being environmentally conscious and working towards reducing our carbon footprint. It's a positive step in the right direction, and we're not afraid to share our commitment to sustainability with you.
Kudos to you, for caring enough to read this and to all of us for taking environmental matters seriously! 🌍🌱😊
Get into the nitty gritty and click here to read the full report