To compensate for our carbon emissions, SEB has decided to contribute to the planting of new forests in southern Tanzania.  We also contribute to a project that provides solar stoves to residents in rural China.

SEB Group has set targets to reduce its carbon emissions by 45 percent by 2015 (compared to emissions in 2008). To achieve this, SEB has undertaken a series of initiatives including switching to green power, using eco-cars, smarter traveling and reducing paper usage. To help cope with unavoidable emissions, SEB contributes to a number of carbon off-setting projects all over the world.

- We are currently on track with our own emission reduction targets, however, the projects we support in China will not offset as much carbon emissions as we initially expected. Therefore we have also decided to support a forest plantation project in Tanzania, "says Jonas Solehav, SEB's environmental manager.

The project in China's Ningxia Hui region, will provide 19 000 poor families with access to solar stoves and thereby reduce emissions from their existing stoves, which currently use fossil fuels. By helping to reduce emissions in China, we are able to compensate for the emissions produced by SEB in 2009, when the total quantity of emissions is established.
In total, SEB’s carbon dioxide emissions for 2009 was over 47 000 tonnes. The solar stove project in China compensates for around 25 percent of this, and the forest plantation scheme in Tanzania is to compensate for the remaining amount. The Chinese project is approved by the UN and the project in Tanzania has been approved by the Voluntary Carbon Standard, an organization with backing from several major international companies and government agencies.

SEB always trys to run its different activities such as environmental projects, sponsorship and charity schemes in the markets in which it operates. But as it has proved difficult to find carbon offsetting projects, approved by credible international organizations, in the countries in which SEB operates we have decide to go beyond our markets in this regard. We think it's important that we invest in projects where there is thorough, credible accounting of processes and results. Climate change is a global concern and the projects we support demonstrate high levels of success, "says Jonas Solehav.

During the period from 1990 to 2005, over 60 000 square kilometers of forest were lost in Tanzania. Local authorities are trying, with various initiatives, to prevent the loss of more forest, but have limited financial resources at their disposal. External financial support is therefore vital, and can produce real change. In addition to carbon compensation, the project in Tanzania also provides jobs, education in various forms to the local population and improved infrastructure, including better access to water in local villages.

Tree planting in Uchindele Mapanda

Read more about the project in Tanzania at http://www.carbonneutral.com/project-portfolio/uchindile-mapanda-reforestation/