Lubricants giant Fuchs has announced it will be completely carbon dioxide neutral as soon as next year.
Fuchs, which has its UK headquarters in Stoke-on-Trent, says it will be CO2-neutral globally by January 1 2020 – from energy consumption in production to consumables in administration.
To achieve this in two months’ time, the company will offset CO2 emissions that have not yet been avoided so far with compensation measures.
The company says it will do this by investing in high-quality climate protection projects aimed primarily at promoting renewable energy.
The projects will be accredited, approved and monitored according to internationally recognised certification standards such as the Gold Standard, as well as by organisations such as the United Nations. The Gold Standard was established in 2003 by WWF and other international non-government organisations to ensure projects that reduced carbon emissions featured the highest levels of environmental integrity and also contributed to sustainable development.
Validation of the CO2 savings achieved will be verified by independent testing bodies such as TÜV.
Fuchs’ commitment to environmental sustainability has previously been demonstrated with the launch of its Lube Cube, which gives customers the option of buying its leading products in a recyclable cardboard box rather than a plastic container. The change has resulted in a saving of more than 660,000kg of plastic since its launch in 2012.
And more than 2,000 solar panels have been installed at Fuchs’ base on New Century Street in Hanley, Stoke. The panels now produce 12% of the energy required for the entire plant.
Stefan Fuchs, chairman of the executive board of Fuchs Petrolub, said: “Fuchs’ CO2 neutrality strategy is embedded in our sustainability strategy, which we launched 10 years ago. In this way, we are t making an important contribution to achieving the goals of the UN climate protection agreement ratified in Paris in 2015.”
Mr Fuchs added that in selecting projects, its focus would be on climate protection projects that support economic, ecological and social development worldwide in regions with Fuchs locations.