Climate-Neutral Certified

To prove that we at Domo® Sports Grass take our environmental responsibilities seriously, we have been certified as a Climate Neutral Organisation by Anthesis Group. This means that we are actively committed to reducing our CO₂ emissions and achieving sustainability goals. We achieve this through targeted actions and certified climate neutral products. In this way, Domo® Sports Grass wants to make a difference in the industry and contribute to the sustainability goals of clubs and municipalities.

Our current Climate-Neutral certificate is valid until 30/12/2024. We choose to be re-audited to extend our certificate until the end of 30/09/2025.

Becoming a Climate-Neutral Certified organisation did not happen overnight. We had to meet several criteria. To this end, we have identified the following:
 

• We measure our CO₂ emissions;
• We made up a plan to annually reduce your CO₂ emissions;
• We offset excess emissions through a verified climate project;
• We let do a check and verify these steps by an independent auditor. 
   

Our approach to being and staying Climate-Neutral Certified

A Climate-Neutral Certified organisation commits to taking real steps to reduce their own carbon emissions. Annually, the independent auditors check whether the organisation has effectively implemented the measures according to the reduction plan and whether these have effectively led to a reduction in carbon emissions. This is essential to remain Climate Neutral Certified. How does Domo^® Sports Grass do this?
 

We set scope 1 2 3 carbon reduction targets

We formulated several targets for CO₂ emission reduction:

To achieve the big targets by 2025 and 2030, we would need to achieve annual reduction targets for scope 1 2 3 carbon emissions:

We implement CO2 reducing actions

To achieve our carbon reduction targets for scope 1 2 3 carbon emissions and maintain these target values, we have implemented the following actions:

Scope 1

• Simple actions by our colleagues: switching off lights and appliances at the end of the working day, not leaving doors and windows open in winter, sorting waste and making sustainable material choices
• Heat recovery to reduce gas consumption
• Switch latex to Domo® Infinitum coating (reduction gas emission for oven)
• Switch to more sustainable vehicles and equipment
• Measures relating to the gas and fuel consumption of the company's fleet
   

Scope 2

• Home-generated energy from solar panels, supplemented by green electricity
• Phased installation of LED lighting in all our buildings
   

Scope 3

• Choose lower-emission flights when travelling by air
• Encourage employees to use alternative transport for shorter journeys
• Increase the use of remote meetings
• Encourage people who live less than 10 km from work to cycle to work 
• Waste is responsibly handled and collected by a suitable waste disposal partner

We offset carbon emissions

In partnership with the Climate Neutral Group, we support the *REDD+ Forest Conversation sustainability project in Brasil to protect the Amazon Forest. We believe it is essential to protect existing ecosystems rich in biodiversity. Thanks to this project, around 99,000 hectares of the Amazon Forest can be protected. The Amazon Forest has become a symbol and is known as the 'lungs of the earth'. This refers not only to the offsetting of CO_2, but also to the wealth of plant and animal species that grow and live there.

To be the first climate-neutral continent. This is the European Union's goal for 2050. It is an ambitious goal, but it has become a key pillar in the work of European organisations. The EU says that a continent is carbon neutral when it absorbs as much CO₂ emissions as it produces (What is carbon neutrality and how can it be achieved by 2050? | News | European Parliament, 2023). 

From this, it becomes clear that achieving climate neutrality consists of two components. The first and most important component is applying CO₂ reduction released from direct business activities.This can be done, for instance, by switching to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. In addition, one can make efforts aimed at improving energy efficiency. The second component is about absorbing the amount of CO₂ released from business activities. Offsetting is done through participating in CO₂-certified projects. On top of that, carbon reducing activities are more beneficial in the long run than offsetting. Financial savings in energy costs is a simple example of this. The lower the CO₂ emissions, the less effort needs to be made in terms of CO₂ offsetting activities. 

What is a climate-neutral certified organisation?

Climate-Neutral Certified is a label owned by Climate Neutral Group and issued by independent auditors. They help organisations reduce their climate impact, in line with the Paris Agreement (EUR-LEX - 22016A1019(01) - EN - EUR-LEX, s.d.) Being Climate-Neutral Certified as an organisation means that you can demonstrate that you are taking active steps to both reduce your CO₂ emissions from business activities and offset the remaining unavoidable CO₂ emissions with verified high-quality projects. So, it goes much further than just applying offsets to realise CO₂ reduction. The independent auditors strictly monitor that the annual mandatory CO2 reduction measures are effectively implemented before granting their certification. As a result, the proportion of offsetting activities will gradually decrease over time as more measures are implemented.
 

What does this certificate means for you?

Opting for artificial turf from a certified carbon-neutral organisation presents numerous advantages for your club or municipality. Firstly, it actively contributes to officially recognized efforts, thereby fostering a positive impact on the climate. This certificate therefore adds credibility to your club or municipality. Furthermore, it does not only align with the increasing societal value placed on sustainability, but can also serve as a compelling factor for athletes contemplating joining your sports club or to attract sponsors or investors.
Finally, by making this environmentally responsible choice, your club, or community becomes a trailblazer, setting an example for other clubs and municipalities. This leadership role encourages a collective commitment to eco-friendly initiatives, contributing to a broader movement of environmental responsibility.  

Do you have more questions about our carbon reducing plans? Or do you want more information about how Climate- Neutral Certified works? Fill in the form below and your representative will contact you shortly:

Sources:

What is carbon neutrality and how can it be achieved by 2050? | News | European Parliament. (2023, 4 december). https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20190926STO62270/what-is-carbon-neutrality-and-how-can-it-be-achieved-by-2050.

EUR-LEX - 22016A1019(01) - EN - EUR-LEX. (s.d.). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/NL/TXT/?uri=CELEX:22016A1019(01).