Client
Certified Origins Group, with headquarters in Italy, Spain, and the United States, focuses primarily on the packaging and distribution of private-label extra virgin olive oil and other food products sourced from 200 cooperatives across the Mediterranean. Production is centred in the Mediterranean region, where the products are also packaged and exported.
The company operates in five countries worldwide: Italy, Spain, Mexico, the United States, and China. In its Italian headquarters, olive oil is packaged, and pre-packaged products are purchased and distributed. Similarly, the Spanish division purchases and distributes pre-packaged products, while the other locations only distribute products received from Spain and Italy.
A unique feature of the Certified Origins Group is its use of blockchain technology and systems dedicated to ensuring the traceability, authenticity, and quality of its ingredients, enhancing the value of its products and their origins.
Challenge
To quantify and analyse the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the Certified Origins Group through the calculation of its Organisational Carbon Footprint (OCF), following the ISO 14064 standard and using 2023 as the reference year. The OCF represents the total direct and indirect emissions generated by an organisation’s activities.
What was done?
The study evaluated the Certified Origins Group’s activities from a lifecycle perspective. Emissions from all GHGs covered by the Kyoto Protocol and the IPCC were considered, and the inventory and results were structured in line with the ISO 14064-1:2019 categories. The carbon footprint calculation encompassed the entire value chain.
The study was coordinated by the Certified Origins Group’s sustainability specialist, with contributions from various company departments. Inèdit supported the process by assisting with data collection and performing the calculations.
Results
79,7%
The primary source of emissions is indirect emissions from products used by Certified Origins, mainly extra virgin olive oil.
19,1%
The second major source of emissions is indirect emissions from transportation.
71.11% of the organisational carbon footprint originates from the Italian division, 14.70% from the Spanish division, 13.76% from the US division, 0.42% from the Mexican division, and 0.01% from the Chinese division.
Conclusions
The results of the study highlight the need to not only improve internally but also engage raw material suppliers, where most impacts are concentrated, by encouraging them to enhance their production methods.
Furthermore, an appropriate system for quantifying environmental impacts facilitates decision-making and links carbon management to business strategy.
The results of the OCF calculation for the Certified Origins Group feed into the company’s environmental action plan, which is already underway. This plan will include a decarbonisation strategy and propose specific actions to improve the organisation’s overall environmental performance.
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