Carbon-neutral shipping
When shipping carriers transport goods between locations, the transportation methods release greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. Shipping is a requirement for how most businesses send and receive goods, but carbon emissions from shipping negatively impact the planet and contribute to climate change.
You can reduce or remove the carbon dioxide emissions from packages that you ship in multiple ways:
- by using compostable packaging
- by using carbon-neutral shipping options
- by supporting initiatives that contribute to carbon offset or removal
A carbon offset process reduces the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, so that increased greenhouse gases elsewhere have a net impact of 0. For example, a truck might release 1 kg of CO2 in one mile, while actions to preserve a forest remove 1 kg of CO2 from the atmosphere. If you purchase one carbon offset that supports forest preservation for each mile that a truck travels, then the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere remain the same.
A carbon removal process captures carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and then stores it. For example, if a truck or a plane that delivers your shipment releases 1 kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, and you are subscribed to the Planet app, then Shopify ensures that 1kg of CO2is also sucked from the atmosphere and stored away usingsolutions and technologiesin Shopify Sustainability Fund.
The following hierarchy is used to determine which service provides the offset or removal:
| Offset or removal method | Description | Cost coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Any Shopify promotions | Promotions, such as carbon-neutral shipping during BFCM, take priority over all other services. | The cost is covered by Shopify. |
| 3.Planet app | The Planet app calculates the carbon emissions for each of your shipments, and then removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. | You're charged the cost of removing the emissions. |