The company, which is already carbon neutral in its own operations, is also offsetting the carbon emissions of every hire job it takes.
“As of the 19th of May, every job delivered by Valiant includes a detailed carbon footprint in relation to the furniture you’ve hired,” Valiant’s managing director, Brian Lindeman, told attendees at an event to launch the calculator last Thursday.
“It’s the most comprehensive tool of its kind, capturing emissions from manufacturing, factory to port, port to warehouse, warehouse to site, length of hire and all the way back again. This tool will enable us to provide precise, real time insights at a click of a button, all integrated into our online platform,” said Linderman.
Valiant is offsetting the carbon emissions of all its clients’ furniture hire jobs through Trace, a carbon consultancy that provides carbon measurement and offsetting opportunities. Both Australian based and international carbon offset projects are being used by Valiant to offset event client jobs.
Valiant also used last week’s event at new Sydney venue Saltbox to announce it had been certified as a B Corp – a global profit and purpose movement which assesses responsible business performance across five areas: governance, workers, customers, environment and community.
“We want to run a business that drives change,” said Linderman.
“As a business and as individuals, we have a responsibility to be better and do better. I want our children and grandchildren to grow up in a world that’s learned from its past and is actively working toward a more sustainable and equitable future.
“Becoming a B Corp provides Valiant the framework and roadmap to allow us to do this.
“I firmly believe business is one of the most powerful tools for change. When organisations lead with purpose it inspires their people and that ripple effect can extend to their families, communities and beyond.”
For the launch event Valiant practiced what it preached across a variety of event and operational elements. The company used several other B Corps to deliver the event, including AV1 for the production element and PR company Compass, while B Corp event agency Frank Wild tracked all the event’s emissions, including the transport taken by attendees to and from the event. All emissions were offset by planting 52 trees in Victoria’s Grampians region through the organisation Fifteen Trees.
“This level of carbon measurement and reporting is something that will become mandatory for all businesses over the next three to five years as part of the government’s climate related reporting,” said Lindeman.
“If Australia’s serious about meeting its sustainability targets, we must start by actively measuring our impact and that means businesses of all sizes need to understand their footprint.”
At the event Valiant also provided space to showcase a company it works with called Resourceful Living, which turns Valiant’s plastic packaging waste into new items – attendees were able to take home coasters made from Valiant’s packaging.
