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Reducing Our Carbon Footprints

We are constantly reminded of the relationship between our actions and the health of the environment. The new records set every year for local and global temperatures, severe weather, rising sea levels, and more bring climate change to the front of our minds. 

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In response, we’re making changes to the way we live. Recycling programs are in effect around the world, upcycling is increasingly popular, and bioplastics are beginning to replace single-use plastics.

 

As a society, how can we reduce our carbon footprint?

What is a carbon footprint?

A carbon footprint is the impact an entity—a person, a business, a product—has on the environment. The “carbon” in the name is in reference to carbon dioxide, as CO2 is used as a rough equivalent to calculate any given footprint. More technically, carbon footprints are a measurement of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

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By boiling our environmental impact down to one metric, carbon footprints are a convenient and easy-to-understand way to compare people, products, industries, and more. Otherwise, it would be difficult to visualize how our individual activities measure up to worldwide natural and industrial forces. For example, the average American’s per capita GHG emissions total to 14.4 metric tons, while the United States agriculture sector has an equivalent of 593.4 million metric tons of CO2e.

What goes into one person’s carbon footprint?

The average person’s environmental footprint is roughly determined based on several factors. Some of the biggest include:

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  • Family size: A family with children will have a much larger footprint than a single person.

  • Transportation: Bicycles, cars, subways, planes…the amount of CO2e generated when we move from place to place depends on how we get there.

  • Heating and air conditioning: How is your home powered? Fossil fuels produce significantly more greenhouse gasses than renewable energy like solar.

  • Food: This includes food waste, the harvesting and production of the food we eat, and more. 

Are carbon footprints accurate?

It’s important to remember that carbon footprints are estimates. They function as a metric to compare the difference in environment impact between entities and time periods rather than providing an exact number. It gives us a way to see the progress we’ve made working together to heal and protect the environment. It also shows us where improvement is needed and where we as a society can make the most change.

The connection between composting and carbon footprints

The biggest impact composting has on global GHG emissions is returning organic waste directly to the earth rather than sending it to a landfill. This is known as a circular economy, where the materials we harvest are used and then, when they’ve reached the end of their life, are returned to the beginning of the cycle to start again.

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Over 20% of the waste in United States landfills is food waste. If it was composted instead, food waste’s carbon footprint would shrink to a fraction of its size.

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It’s not just about reducing waste either! Composting enhances soil quality, including water-holding capacity and increased nutrients. Rather than solely releasing carbon dioxide, composting requires carbon-rich materials to break down, which keeps CO2 in the life cycle rather than in the atmosphere. Composting goes beyond mitigating damage: It improves the environment.

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​The quality of what we compost is also important. When considering bioplastics, ensuring compostable products are free of microplastics and other toxins is essential to minimizing our carbon footprint.

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Composting doesn’t have to be done alone. While you can do home composting in your backyard if you choose, large quantities of compostable material—such as those accumulated by businesses—can also be diverted to industrial composting facilities.

Calculating carbon footprints

Calculating carbon footprints and GHG emissions is complicated and there are many ways to do it. Because the general unit of measurement is CO2 equivalent (CO2e), calculations in the background are necessary to convert electricity, natural gas, oil, and more into a single unit. 

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If you’re curious about your own carbon footprint, there are many calculators by reputable organizations like the United Nations that help you understand your personal impact. They can offer valuable insight into how to reduce your carbon footprint.

What does a life cycle assessment (LCA) measure?

LCAs measure a product’s sustainability and environmental impact. It follows the entire life cycle of a product and analyzes each stage:

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  • Material extraction

  • Manufacturing and processing

  • Transportation

  • Usage and retail

  • Waste treatment or recovery

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Before the assessment begins, the goal and scope are defined to identify what metrics will be measured. At each stage, the inputs (e.g., energy) and outputs (e.g., emissions) are quantified. The life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) is where those numbers are converted into actual impacts. There are over a dozen potential categories, including:

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  • Climate change

  • Ozone depletion

  • Human toxicity

  • Eco-toxicity

  • Land use

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The results give businesses an idea of where they stand in terms of their carbon footprint and show them a path to move forward.

How does būmi reduce our carbon footprint?

One of the things that makes būmi unique is what it’s made of. Compostable products are often made out of equally renewable, organic material like bamboo. They can be made of a mix of the plant’s by-products and the part that could be used for other purposes.

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Our products go a step further by primarily using agricultural waste in the form of rice husks. Rice is the third most produced commodity in the world—that creates a lot of waste! 

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The agricultural waste burned or sent to a landfill contributes to about 3% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, or 1.2 Gt CO2e. By taking action to divert rice husks into upcycled products, būmi is putting a dent in that number. At the same time, every package made from bioplastics is an improvement on the impact petroleum-based plastics have on the environment.

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So, how do būmi’s compostable products reduce our carbon footprint? 

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  • Minimize traditional plastic waste by replacing them with compostable bioplastics.

  • Encourage a circular economy through composting.

  • Reduce GHG emissions from organic waste sent to landfills by putting it back in the earth.

  • Nourish the soil with nutrient-rich compost to help other things grow.

  • Made of 100% compostable material that leaves zero microplastics and harmful residues behind.

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Looking for more details about būmi’s positive impact? Keep an eye out for our official life cycle assessment in the future!

Key takeaways about carbon footprints

Reducing carbon footprints isn’t only on the individual: It’s also up to businesses, industries, and nations. It will take time to make drastic changes worldwide, but our planet is worth it.

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  • Carbon footprints quantify the impact of our actions and choices on the environment.

  • Carbon dioxide equivalency (CO2e) is used as a general measurement for carbon footprints.

  • Carbon footprint calculators and assessments give estimates that allow us to determine the best course of action to make positive changes.

  • Switching to compostable bioplastics is one of the ways to reduce our carbon footprint to become a part of a waste-free future.

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