In a world where sustainability has become fundamental, the carbon footprint emerges as a crucial tool for measuring the environmental impact of our activities. This metric reflects the total amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted directly or indirectly by our actions. At Arcos, we are committed to reducing this impact and, after constant effort, we have achieved the triple carbon footprint seal: “Calculate,” “Reduce,” and “Offset.”
What is the Carbon Footprint?
The carbon footprint is classified into three scopes:
- Scope 1: Direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by the organization, such as vehicles and boilers.
- Scope 2: Indirect emissions related to the generation of electricity, heating, and cooling that the organization acquires.
- Scope 3: All other indirect emissions occurring in the organization’s value chain, including supplier activities and the use of sold products.
Calculating and Evaluating Our Environmental Impact
Through a comprehensive analysis of our emissions in these three scopes, we have been able to identify key areas for improvement. As a result, we obtained the “Calculate” seal for the year 2023. This initial step is fundamental to establishing a solid foundation on our path toward sustainability.
Measures to Reduce Emissions
Once we have measured our emissions, the next step is to actively work on their reduction. In this regard, we have implemented various initiatives that highlight our commitment to sustainability:
- Sustainable Mobility: We are expanding our facilities with more bicycle parking spaces and planning to renew our vehicle fleet to hybrid or electric. These actions promote the use of more sustainable means of transportation.
- Renewable Energy: We pride ourselves on using 100% renewable energy sources and committing to generate 10% of our energy through the installation of solar panels, which helps reduce our carbon footprint.
- Waste Management and Energy Efficiency: We have implemented a robust recycling plan and replaced traditional lights with high-efficiency LED technology. We have also updated our cooling systems to maximize energy efficiency.
Thanks to these initiatives, we achieved a 6.48% reduction in the intensity of our emissions during the 2021-2023 triennium compared to 2020-2022, leading us to obtain the “Reduce” seal.
Offsetting Emissions
The third component of our strategy is offsetting emissions, a vital part of neutralizing the residual impact of our activities. In this sense, we have implemented several initiatives focused on reforestation and CO₂ absorption.
Tree Plantations
On March 4, 2023, we carried out a significant tree planting initiative on one hectare of land in Madrigueras, Albacete. This project saw enthusiastic participation from our employees and their families, who actively collaborated in planting hundreds of trees. This action not only helps absorb CO₂ but also contributes to biodiversity and improves local ecosystems.
In 2024, we repeated this initiative on another hectare of land, reaffirming our commitment to annual plantings in different locations. These actions are fundamental to offsetting our carbon emissions and represent an important step in our long-term sustainability mission.
Maintenance of Plantations
In addition to the initial plantings, we are committed to properly maintaining these trees to ensure their growth and effectiveness in absorbing CO₂. This maintenance includes continuous monitoring of the trees’ development. Ensuring the success of these plantations is crucial to maximizing their positive environmental impact.
Looking to the Future
