CO2 - the key to stopping climate change

Climate change has many effects

...but only one cause

Life on our planet is already massively affected by climate change and will be much more so in the future. The consequences of global warming are associated with increasing intensities of weather events - storms, heavy precipitation , drought. In addition, climate change has triggered the sixth mass extinction, also known as holocene species extinction. Due to the speed of climate change, many species are unable to adapt quickly enough to rapidly changing conditions, leading to a decline in their populations and eventually to species loss. Overall, the sixth mass extinction is primarily due to human activities, and it is imperative that we take action to mitigate these impacts and prevent further biodiversity loss. After all, an intact living world and its biodiversity is the basis for humanity's existence and prosperity. CO2 emissions are the key that each and every one of us holds in our hands.

Why we measure the CO2 emissions of our actions

...and produce smarter as a result

Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that is released by human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation and contributes to global warming. These rising temperatures have devastating effects on our climate (see below). To reduce CO2 emissions, conscious consumption is crucial. We need to consume smarter by choosing products that emit less CO2 throughout their lifetime. To achieve this, we need standards and reference values to compare the CO2 emissions of different products. The GHG Product Standard is one such standard that takes into account the entire life cycle of a product and quantifies the greenhouse gas emissions. Calculations according to the GHG Product Standard can help to compare the CO2 emissions of different products. Oceanwell calculates its CO2 emissions for its products according to this standard.

Carbon footprint of companies and products

Oceanwell - more than skin care...

The manufacturer of Oceanwell, oceanBASIS GmbH, was one of the first companies in the world to calculate a carbon footprint for its product. In 2012, oceanBASIS contributed to the development of a global standard for calculating the CO2 footprint of products - the GHG (Greenhouse Gas) Product Standard. We have since applied this standard to all of our products and can thus fall back on a solid data basis. It is this analysis and database that enables us to identify which ingredients, which packaging and which production processes emit the most CO2. We can reduce our CO2 emissions as a manufacturer particularly efficiently with these "adjusting screws".

How do we calculate the CO2 emissions of a product?

The products are analysed in great detail throughout their entire life cycle with regard to their material and energy requirements. Every ingredient, every work step, every packaging is taken into account and converted into "CO2 equivalents". One example is our algae extract "Lamowell", for which we have developed a very detailed CO2 balance. The biggest problem in calculating a CO2 footprint for a product is that there is not (yet) a corresponding CO2 value for every material and for every work step. For such materials and processes, we have to make do with the best possible comparison and an estimate, just like any manufacturer. You can find the CO2 value in the properties table in the respective product description in the shop see example here. Some manufacturers also offer this valuable information. This way you can buy and consume more consciously.

And what does that mean in figures?

Time to be precise and concrete!

In the adjacent chart, you can see the most important CO2 emitters from 2018 (in kg CO2 equivalents). We were surprised ourselves at how high the emissions were from employees travelling to work and business trips with "combustion engines" ("vehicle fleet" in the chart). Even though we were already convinced e-mobilists and cyclists, we have multiplied our measures in this regard. Above all, this means strong financial and infrastructural support for mobility without (or with little) use of fossil fuels. The flights would not have appeared in the balance sheet in times of coronavirus, but even the few flights we took in 2018 were enough to put us in third place. We are planning another carbon footprint for 2023 so that we will have comparative data. And in this way, it motivates us all and makes climate protection fun!