Forgo on track to wash its hands of carbon
12 Oct 2021 --- Swedish personal care brand Forgo is working towards becoming carbon neutral by following some of the guidelines set by the Oxford Carbon Offsetting Principles. In September 2020, the University of Oxford revealed its guidance on the acceptable types of offsets and the specific conditions under which they should be used. The move came after global companies, including BP and Google, along with country-led pledges such as China’s 2060 ‘carbon neutrality’ commitment turned to carbon offsetting as a tool to reach net-zero emissions.
Forgo was launched by CEO Allon Libermann, entrepreneur Samuel Chevalier and the design studio Form Us With Love in 2020. The hand wash brand centers its offering around the refillable concept. “By offering a refillable solution we can amortize the refillable bottle over time of use,” says Libermann. “By offering refills at the lowest emissions per unit known to date, we can easily surpass global goals of reducing emissions by 50% from just operating.”
Click to EnlargeForgo's powdered hand wash adds to carbon targets simply by being a refillable. Source: Forgo.Offsets are the last thing Forgo considers. “First and foremost is an absolute reduction in emissions both in what we offer and our supply chain,” Libermann details. “When it comes to offsets we are looking for near-permanent solutions; we are looking for guarantees of carbon storage or stable principles of carbon storage.”
Forgo is considering offsetting 1,20 (1.2) times its scope one, two and three emissions. It has chosen the figure to account for knock-on effects. The brand works with resource economist Carbon Calories to develop its plan. “It is still largely in the works as there are few stable carbon storage initiatives,” Libermann comments.
For a company to become net zero it must follow the emissions guidelines outlined by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, relating to three categories. Scope one direct emissions center on removing those from the specific assets a company operates and controls. Scope two emissions are those relating to the energy a company buys, and scope three are the emissions that are generated throughout the value chain.
In July 2021, Forgo and Carbon Calories carried out a lifecycle assessment of its DIY soap, which enables personal care consumers to mix soap themselves. Forgo’s ‘just add water’ product comes in a powdered form that invites users to mix the powder with tap water at home inside a reusable glass bottle. The assessment was conducted as part of the plan to eradicate carbon emissions from the supply chain by 2026.
Commenting on how Forgo’s goal to become carbon neutral impacts its innovation and product creation, Libermann states: “It influences us to do better. We are constantly thinking of how we can make products more enjoyable, more efficient, and more convenient to people, so that the sustainable choice becomes the simpler choice.”
“We consider long-lasting materials for refillable containers that amortize over time,” highlights Libermann. “We consider replenishable materials from known carbon sinks as a source for our single-use products.” In addition, the personal care brand is working to get all of its factories running on renewables.
The principles of offsetting
In its guidelines, The Oxford Principles for Net Zero Aligned Carbon Offsetting, the University of Oxford sets out its insights and recommendations for correctly executing carbon offsetting as a key strategic tool in driving down carbon emissions to reach net zero.
As well as highlighting the importance of having nature-based carbon offsets such as forest restoration, the multidisciplinary team at the University of Oxford detail four primary elements to reaching credible net zero emissions, which include:
- Prioritize reducing a company’s own emissions first, ensure the environmental integrity of any offsets used, and disclose how these offsets are used;
- Move offsetting towards carbon removal, where offsets directly remove carbon from the atmosphere;
- Shift offsetting towards long-lived storage as this removes carbon from the atmosphere permanently or almost permanently; and
- Provide support for the development of a market that supports net zero aligned offsets.
Forgo is not the only BPC brand pushing ahead with its carbon-neutral goals. On 23 September, BPC insights reported that L'Oréal USA has achieved carbon neutral status for scope one and two emissions across all of its 25 US sites.
By Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe, BPC Insights Senior Journalist
