Greening Strategy

Taking action to reduce carbon emissions         

Recognising that climate change poses a threat to the economy, nature and society-at-large, Astoria Cigars has joined the SME Climate Commitment to take action immediately in order to:

  • Halve our greenhouse gas emissions before 2030
  • Achieve net zero emissions before 2050 & 
  • Disclose our progress on a yearly basis

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We are proud to join with other SMEs to be recognised by the United Nations Race to Zero campaign, and join governments, businesses, cities, regions, and universities around the world that share the same mission.
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Step 1: Calculating our carbon footprint

Astoria Cigars has calculated its carbon footprint using the Carbon Trust’s SME Carbon Footprint Calculator. 

For the year 1 September 2020 - 1 September 2021 our total emissions were:

0kgCO2e from process (Scope 1 emissions) as we don't manufacture anything

536kgCO2e from purchased electricity used in store (Scope 2 emissions) 

[tbc] CO2e from supply chain (Scope 3 emissions)  

CO2e is also known as carbon dioxide equivalent (C02eq)
This is a more accurate metric measure used to compare emissions from various greenhouse gases by comparing them all to the equivalent amount of Carbon Dioxide (CO2).

Step 2: Reduce

Our key strategies to reduce our all-in CO2e figure include:

Changes already made:

  • Turning off lights, heating & purification when not required

Plus

  • Cancelling plans to introduce air conditioning 
  • Changing packaging materials to improve recyclable content
  • Cancelling plans to offer paper receipts
  • Switching to a more local supply chain for packaging materials
              

Changes underway

  • Researching  new packaging materials to improve compostable, 
    biodegradable and plastic content AND from a local
    supply chain
  • Switching to a carbon conscious courier organisation
  • Reviewing other ways to manage solar gain in store

Plus 

  • Working with our supply chain partners to define our Scope 3 emissions

Changes for the future

  • Switching to a carbon conscious bank
  • Installing a smart meter
  • Switching to 100% renewable energy
  • Making the switch to 100% LED light bulbs         


                                                     

                                                                                                                             

Step 3: Offset

We have taken the time to research carbon offsetting schemes, which can be a bit of a money making gimmick.  For example, investing too heavily in UK tree planting could make that so lucrative that we'll have a conflict with space for crop farming.  Not helpful when we're needing to promote self-sufficiency and reduce dependency on flown imports.  We're therefore very happy to be contributing to the removal of a total 60 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent each year through Carbon Neutral Britain.