#Staff Column
2023.06.28
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https://dev.stories.amorepacific.com/en/from-a-new-perspective-carbon-is-the-new-calorie
From a new perspective; Carbon is the new Calorie
Columnist | Introducing the columns written by member of Amorepacific Group
Part.2 From a new perspective; Carbon is the new Calorie
Columnist
Shinhee Lee
Amorepaicfic Restore Business Team
Amorepaicfic Restore Business Team
# INTRO
There is a phrase that goes “Carbon = Calories.” This rather enigmatic equation was coined by the well-known company Logitech. Many health-aware people check the calorie content of their food prior to consumption. Aren't you curious to know what would happen if ‘carbon,’ the indicator of the Earth's health, was displayed on the packaging of every product?
Today, we are going to look at the ‘Environment’ component of ESG.
There is a phrase that goes “Carbon = Calories.” This rather enigmatic equation was coined by the well-known company Logitech. Many health-aware people check the calorie content of their food prior to consumption. Aren't you curious to know what would happen if ‘carbon,’ the indicator of the Earth's health, was displayed on the packaging of every product?
Today, we are going to look at the ‘Environment’ component of ESG.
▲Source : POSCO website
# Global warming, climate crisis, and carbon neutrality
Before we go on, let's review the glossary. While the terms “global warming” or “climate change” were primarily used a decade ago to indicate that the earth is gradually getting warmer, recently, the situation has worsened, giving rise to the words “climate
crisis” or “climate catastrophe.”
According to the IPCC , a body of climate experts within the United Nations, the global average temperature has risen by approximately 1.1°C since 1850. As a result, we are witnessing extreme and abnormal climate phenomena. The 2021 Climate Report used strong language, stating that “it is ‘indisputable’ that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land.” It has come to a point where we can no longer ignore the responsibility of the individual and businesses in addressing the climate crisis.
According to the IPCC , a body of climate experts within the United Nations, the global average temperature has risen by approximately 1.1°C since 1850. As a result, we are witnessing extreme and abnormal climate phenomena. The 2021 Climate Report used strong language, stating that “it is ‘indisputable’ that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land.” It has come to a point where we can no longer ignore the responsibility of the individual and businesses in addressing the climate crisis.
▲Source : shutterstock
▲Source : shutterstock
The Paris Agreement of 2016 is recognized as being the first global climate agreement that requires compliance from all 195 participating countries. Its goal is to limit the increase in global average temperature to within 2℃ greater than pre-industrial
levels and to strive for a further reduction to 1.5℃ or below. Since the agreement, carbon neutrality has emerged as a worldwide initiative, as evidenced by the participation of 121 countries in the Climate Ambition Alliance: Net Zero 2050
neutrality (or net-zero) refers to the process in which companies offset the greenhouse gas (carbon) emissions they produce by absorbing an equivalent amount of carbon, reducing their net emissions to ‘0.’ The rapid increase in carbon dioxide emissions
has led to global warming, prompting companies, as key players in industries, to pursue carbon neutrality to prevent a worldwide climate catastrophe. Achieving carbon neutrality can be done through practices, such as afforestation to supply oxygen,
investment in renewable energy, or carbon credit purchases. Now, let's take a look at some examples of companies that are actively practicing environmental management, both directly and indirectly.
▲Source : shutterstock
▲Source : shutterstock
#1 Witness the melting glaciers
The first example is creative fonts. Designed by Helsingin Sanomat, the largest newspaper company in Northern Europe, the below font depicts melting glaciers, representing the urgency of the climate crisis. The purpose of this font is to allow people to intuitively grasp the severity of the climate crisis.
The first example is creative fonts. Designed by Helsingin Sanomat, the largest newspaper company in Northern Europe, the below font depicts melting glaciers, representing the urgency of the climate crisis. The purpose of this font is to allow people to intuitively grasp the severity of the climate crisis.
▲Source : helsingin-sanomat
Despite its seemingly ordinary appearance, this font was created using actual data on melting glaciers that has been collected and accumulated since 1979, along with predictions of the amount of ice that will melt by 2050. As an OpenType Variable Font,
it captures the melting process of Arctic ice within the passage of time, made available free of charge for everyone to use, with the goal of raising awareness among a wider audience about the seriousness of global warming.
#2 Carbon is calorie
Now, let's take a look at the equation mentioned in the intro. This equation, first introduced in Logitech's FY22 Impact Report, is not just an abstract concept but rather a declaration and a commitment. In 2020, Logitech announced its “Carbon Labeling” initiative and promised to implement it on all their products. The company became the first consumer electronics company to put “Carbon Labels” on its products. In addition, in 2021, Logitech achieved carbon neutrality for all their products.
Now, let's take a look at the equation mentioned in the intro. This equation, first introduced in Logitech's FY22 Impact Report, is not just an abstract concept but rather a declaration and a commitment. In 2020, Logitech announced its “Carbon Labeling” initiative and promised to implement it on all their products. The company became the first consumer electronics company to put “Carbon Labels” on its products. In addition, in 2021, Logitech achieved carbon neutrality for all their products.
▲Source : logitech
▲Source : logitech
According to Bracken Darrell, the CEO of Logitech, “Logitech will be including ‘environmental impact’ as a factor to consider when making purchases, along with price and specifications.” This statement effectively captures the company's determination
that consumers should be aware of the footprint their consumption leaves on the planet, and that companies should take accountability accordingly.
* The “C” shape on the Logitech mouse box represents Carbon. In the center is a value that represents the greenhouse gas emissions converted into carbon dioxide emissions. This indicates that the product is a carbon-neutral product.
* The “C” shape on the Logitech mouse box represents Carbon. In the center is a value that represents the greenhouse gas emissions converted into carbon dioxide emissions. This indicates that the product is a carbon-neutral product.
#3 Why beer?
The American outdoor brand Patagonia is frequently mentioned among exemplary cases of environment-conscious management. The brand is famous for its “Don't Buy This Jacket” campaign from 10 years ago. The campaign, which was launched in an attempt to discourage consumption on Black Friday, acknowledged the fact that even products manufactured with environmentally friendly means can still contribute to carbon emission.
“We hope that people think deeply and consume less, whether it is a jacket or something else.”
The American outdoor brand Patagonia is frequently mentioned among exemplary cases of environment-conscious management. The brand is famous for its “Don't Buy This Jacket” campaign from 10 years ago. The campaign, which was launched in an attempt to discourage consumption on Black Friday, acknowledged the fact that even products manufactured with environmentally friendly means can still contribute to carbon emission.
“We hope that people think deeply and consume less, whether it is a jacket or something else.”
▲Source : patagonia
Did you know that Patagonia also produces beer? (Not to be confused with the beer brand Patagonia, which takes its name after the region.) The background of this beer venture is quite fascinating. Patagonia was looking for ways to address the climate
crisis through agriculture, and so launched Long Root Ale, the first commercial product to use the perennial crop Kernza, instead of annual crops like wheat, thereby reducing the frequency of tilling the land, while capturing more carbon dioxide in
the soil and minimizing carbon emissions.
#4 A minus carbon emission
Microsoft announced an initiative to go beyond carbon neutrality and become “Carbon Negative.” The company made this announcement in 2020, along with its commitment to be a Water Positive and Zero Waste company, taking a leading role in protecting the ecosystem.
Microsoft announced an initiative to go beyond carbon neutrality and become “Carbon Negative.” The company made this announcement in 2020, along with its commitment to be a Water Positive and Zero Waste company, taking a leading role in protecting the ecosystem.
▲Source : microsoft
▲Source : microsoft
“We seek to remove all the carbon emissions we have generated since our founding in 1975 by 2030.”
Microsoft already achieved carbon neutrality in 2012. In order to go beyond just offsetting emissions and actively removing more carbon than it emits, the company has implemented an internal carbon fee, which holds departments accountable for exceeding their allocated carbon emissions and imposes a financial responsibility. Additionally, Microsoft has established a $1 billion Climate Innovation Fund over a four-year period to accelerate carbon reduction initiatives.
Microsoft already achieved carbon neutrality in 2012. In order to go beyond just offsetting emissions and actively removing more carbon than it emits, the company has implemented an internal carbon fee, which holds departments accountable for exceeding their allocated carbon emissions and imposes a financial responsibility. Additionally, Microsoft has established a $1 billion Climate Innovation Fund over a four-year period to accelerate carbon reduction initiatives.
#5. Green fandoms
▲Source : kpop4planet
▲Source : kpop4planet
Finally, let's look at what entertainment companies are doing to preserve the environment. Their participation in green initiatives was driven by K-pop fans, who endorse eco-friendly consumption and demand that companies play their part in fighting
the climate crisis. These fans are raising awareness on difficult-to-recycle materials that are used in the production of albums; purchasing multiple copies of albums to increase the chances of winning fan signing event tickets; and ‘binge-purchase’
albums to collect random photo cards inside. More than 10,000 fans both home and abroad joined in the petition calling for the creation of a ‘green’ fan culture.
Last year, JYP Entertainment became the first entertainment company to fulfill the RE100 commitment, with YG Entertainment and SM Entertainment following suit by releasing albums made using green materials. IST Entertainment also took a step towards
environmental sustainability by releasing albums of its idol groups in a “platform album” format, eliminating the need for physical CDs.
Moreover, fans are urging Korean music streaming platforms to make changes, pointing out that streaming music for one hour generates the equivalent of using 40 plastic straws and comparing them to global giants such as Apple Music, which achieved RE100 in 2018, and Spotify, which releases annual climate action reports disclosing the company's greenhouse gas emissions and roadmap.
Moreover, fans are urging Korean music streaming platforms to make changes, pointing out that streaming music for one hour generates the equivalent of using 40 plastic straws and comparing them to global giants such as Apple Music, which achieved RE100 in 2018, and Spotify, which releases annual climate action reports disclosing the company's greenhouse gas emissions and roadmap.
# OUTRO - Your commute and carbon emission
Environmental management practices vary greatly among companies in terms of types and approaches. If you feel that all of this is just an obligation of companies and not directly relevant to you, I would like to draw your attention to the concept of ‘Scope 3.’
Environmental management practices vary greatly among companies in terms of types and approaches. If you feel that all of this is just an obligation of companies and not directly relevant to you, I would like to draw your attention to the concept of ‘Scope 3.’
▲Source : shutterstock
▲Source : shutterstock
Until now, companies have mainly focused on measuring
Scope 1
emissions, which are direct emissions from their own production processes, and
Scope 2
emissions, which are indirect emissions from the generation of electricity and heat used by the company. On the other hand,
Scope 3
encompasses all carbon emissions generated throughout the entire supply chain, including logistics, distribution, product use and disposal, and even employee commuting. In simple terms, it means that even the carbon emissions generated
by employees on their way to work this morning are incorporated in the company's carbon footprint.
Scope 3 is very extensive in its range, making it complex and difficult to control, which makes it even more important to recognize the fact that employees, consumers, and numerous business partners are all part of Scope 3, and that all of these stakeholders
should be encouraged to consider carbon emissions with a new set of eyes.
There is a growing demand for Scope 3 disclosure in the international community, and Amorepacific's commitment towards carbon neutrality also involves Scope 3 emissions. It is crucial for all of us to remember that our work and actions are closely linked to our company's carbon neutrality goals and the climate crisis.
The next column will cover the social management component of ESG. See you then. Thank you.
There is a growing demand for Scope 3 disclosure in the international community, and Amorepacific's commitment towards carbon neutrality also involves Scope 3 emissions. It is crucial for all of us to remember that our work and actions are closely linked to our company's carbon neutrality goals and the climate crisis.
The next column will cover the social management component of ESG. See you then. Thank you.
1
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is an intergovernmental body established jointly by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1988. Its purpose is to assess global
risks related to climate change and to develop strategies to address them at the global level.
2
“Net zero” and “carbon neutrality” are virtually the same thing. According to the Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality (a law that regulates legal procedures and policy measures to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050) that came into effect this
year, both net zero and carbon neutrality are defined as offsetting all six greenhouse gases.
3
The full body of the FY22 Impact Report : https://www.logitech.com/ko-kr/sustainability/reports-and-resources.html
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