“In order compensate for CO2 emission caused by air travel, we have begun a partnership with a company called Tricorona, which has several years of experience in climate compensation,” says Are Grytöyr, travel manager at ICA.

Tricorona, headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, is one of the world’s largest carbon offset companies. It has a portfolio of over 150 projects within renewable energy and energy efficiency, representing carbon savings of over 68 million tons.

CO2 reduction projects
Each year Tricorona will help ICA choose one – or several – CO2 reduction projects to sponsor. “Through them we invest money in different projects for carbon dioxide reduction approved that meet the standards of the Gold Standard Foundation for CO2 reduction,” Are said.

Gold Standard is globally recognized as the highest quality standard for carbon offset projects, and is backed by over 50 NGOs including WWF International.

Gold Standard ensures that projects meet strict criteria for sustainability from an environmental and social perspective, and guarantees that issued carbon offsets are genuinely additional, independently audited and centrally registered.

In 2009, the company will support a wind power mill in Northern China that contributes to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 98,000 tons every year.

The project was approved by the Gold Standard Foundation in April. It will generate 100 000 MWh of carbon-free electricity and produce 98 000 tons of Gold Standard-certified carbon emissions reductions annually, making it the largest Gold Standard CO2 reduction project registered to date.

Collecting funds
How will ICA collected money for the project? A special fee has been imposed on very flight taken by ICA employees travelling for business. The fee for each flight is 35 Swedish crowns within the Nordic countries and 57 Swedish crowns within Europe. The total for ICA’s climate compensation for flights is estimated to 1.5 million crowns per year. ICA will pay a lump sum for the flights that ICA’s employees have undertaken in 2008.

ICA has taken other steps to help reduce CO2 emissions. This included a new policy for service automobiles and employee lease cars. The policy dictates a maximum limit for carbon dioxide emissions on non-clean vehicles, which means that these can not release more than 175 grams carbon dioxide per km. The policy has resulted in an 18% decrease in carbon dioxide emissions from ICA company cars since June 2006.