CarbonAware office practices and native fruit trees in a disadvantaged region

GreenDependent donated 150 fruit tree saplings to the Real Pearl Foundation.

At GreenDependent we conduct our daily activities following carbon-aware and green office practices. One part of this philosophy is that we make sure that our work results in as little carbon emissions as possible. For example, by going to work on foot, by bicycle or by public transport, using environmentally friendly IT devices, paying attention to our office energy consumption, etc. (Learn more about our green office practice here!)

Another part is that we continuously monitor our carbon footprint, and add it all up at the end of each year. What do we monitor? The carbon footprint our commuting and international travels results in, our energy (heating and electricity) and water use. We also follow the footprint of our events – after we have made efforts to reduce this, too.

Finally,– similarly to our clients in TreeDependent programme – we take responsibility for our carbon footprint by planting trees. The trees are obtained from a so-called „Tündérkert” („fairy garden”) in Zala County, whose mission is to (re)distribute native Hungarian tree species. Native trees have a much better biological tolerance than other tree species, so they are more resistant, they do not need to be pruned and sprayed. Thus, in addition to climate protection goals, we also contribute to the preservation of biodiversity.

Furthermore, as we usually distribute the saplings to educational and social institutions and NGOs, they also serve educational and employment-creation purposes. This year, we decided to donate all the small trees needed to compensate for GreenDependent’s footprint, altogether 150, to Igazgyöngy (Real Pearl) Foundation. Igazgyöngy has been active in Eastern Hungary for almost 25 years to eradicate child poverty, to nurture the talents of underprivileged children, but they also deal with the eradication of energy poverty. We believe that the issue of environmental responsibility is inseparable from social responsibility, we have a vision of a world where ecological and social values are connected and support each other, and this approach determines the operation of society and the economy. So, we are very happy to have started this collaboration with Igazgyöngy Foundation.

The fruit trees are in nursery in Told now, later they will be planted in a community garden, and the employees in Told will also receive them in their own gardens. The orchard created in this way will be the basis of the Foundation's eco-farming.