How Subpod Offsets its Own Carbon Footprint

Let’s talk about carbon footprints! Your carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere due to your activities or lifestyle. It’s not restricted to individuals, it can also be related to an organisation, a collective of people or an event.

Every product has a carbon footprint too, including Subpod! The production process, shipping and even the use of many products contribute to greenhouse emissions, spreading carbon dioxide and other gases through the environment.

If we’re going to leave this planet in decent shape for future generations, we have to do something about these emissions! Humanity is becoming more conscious of this need for sustainability and we’re all realising we need to play our part.

‘Carbon offsetting’ is a way of decreasing the size of our carbon footprint. It involves offsetting the amount of carbon we put into the atmosphere with activities that reduce the amount of carbon going into the atmosphere.

Individuals or corporations can buy ‘carbon offsets’ which help to pay for mechanisms that reduce greenhouse gases. Perhaps the money goes towards reforestation projects, or wind turbine energy production.

But did you know you could be offsetting your carbon footprint right in your back yard with Subpod?

Carbon Offsetting by Composting

Subpod is one of very few products that offsets their own emissions! The manufacturing of your Subpod and shipping it to wherever you are in the world does emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. But by taking your food waste, keeping it out of landfill and turning it into healthy, nutritious compost you are offsetting carbon emissions to counter this.

In fact, it doesn’t take long for Subpod to become carbon neutral by offsetting the same amount of carbon dioxide used in production and shipping!

Let’s do a bit of maths here. 1 kilogram of Polypropylene has an equivalent burden of 2.8 kilograms of CO2 emissions. A Subpod Classic weighs 9.8 kilograms, meaning the carbon footprint for the polypropylene material is 24.7 kilograms of CO2.

Now the shipping weight of a Subpod is 11.3 kilograms. The scientific minds of Subpod have done the maths using Long Beach, USA as their reference point. The carbon dioxide emissions to ship one Subpodto Long Beach equate to 3.48 kilograms per Subpod.

So if you’re on the West Coast of the USA, the carbon footprint to make and ship a Subpod to you is 28.18 kilograms of CO2 (carbon from manufacturing plus shipping).

Now, how long does it take to offset this?

If you’ve got a Subpod Classic up and running and composting 15 kilograms per week, you’re offsetting 45 kilograms of CO2 in a month. In one month of full compost production, you’re Subpod is carbon neutral and you’re started reducing your own carbon footprint!

Other Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Composting is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint because it has so many other associated benefits. It’s great for soil health, promoting fertility and plant growth; taking organic food waste and using it to grow food! Feed the soil, feed the world, right?

If you’re committed to leading a sustainable life there are other steps you can take in your day-to-day lives to actively reduce your carbon footprint. If we all collectively take small steps, it’ll have a big impact! Here are some ideas:

• Turn off the lights. If natural light is sufficient or you’re the last person to leave a room, switch off the lights.

• Take the stairs. If you have the choice between an elevator and stairs, get those legs pumping! Elevators consume electricity, but exercise doesn’t.

• Cycle instead of driving. Get some fresh air and keep CO2 out of the atmosphere by hopping on your bike to stock up on milk and bread!

• Do full loads of laundry. Washing machines use a lot of energy and water. Make sure you maximise each load.

• Close windows. If you’ve got the heating or air-conditioning on, keep your windows closed. Open them if you need fresh air, but make sure you turn your internal climate control system off.

• Switch to LED bulbs. These use much less energy than incandescent bulbs and last much longer.

Start Home Composting!

A big step towards making your household more sustainable is to start home composting. Keeping your food waste out of landfill is an activity that can engage the whole family, and helps prioritise sustainability at home. It’s an enjoyable, powerful means of doing good for your garden and the planet!

The easiest home composting solution for beginners is Subpod, thanks to its simple setup and effortless ongoing maintenance. Subpod is also adaptable to any size of outdoor space, from balconies to small courtyards! Why not have a squiz at our range of products below, and see the one that fits your space best? Your carbon footprint is going to thank you!

Want to Reduce your Carbon Footprint?

Check out our worm farm composting systems!