The path to sustainability is a complex one and although there is much left to do, we are making progress. Alongside some of the usual initiatives and 'easy wins' that a business like our can implement, we decided in early 2021 that it was time to attempt to offset the carbon emissions that we are currently unable to eliminate, starting with calendar year 2020. It took a while, but in November 2021, Knockendarroch Hotel finally became a Carbon Neutral Business as certified by Carbon Neutral Britain Ltd. In short, after the Green House Gas (GHG) emissions of the business were audited (Scope 1,2 and 3 emissions) and our Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (Co2e) emissions calculated, we have been able to offset these emissions through the purchase of credits in internationally certified carbon offsetting projects (details below).
The audited emissions reports, carbon neutral certificates and carbon offset purchase receipts can be found at the bottom of this page.
2022 total emissions under Scopes 1,2 & 3 were calculated as 78 t/Co2e.
As we learned more about the GHG audit process, it became clear that Scopes 1,2 and 3 do not really take onto account the emissions impact of our entire product. For example, Scope 3 correctly takes into account the emissions related to getting our food and drink ingredients to the hotel (transport emissions), but nowhere are the emissions related to the food and drink itself accounted for. The assumption is that the original producer of the ingredients and the end consumer assume the responsibility for offsetting. As a business heavily focused on selling food and drink, we felt that the associated carbon footprint of that food and drink should really fall to us to offset.
We have assumed 8kg of Co2e per person per day when it comes to food and drink. This number is just an estimate but it was the highest estimate we could could find in our research and so can hopefully be considered a conservative approach.
For 2022, we estimate our emissions through guest food & drink consumption to be 67 t/Co2e.
Firewood
The other obvious omission from the Scope structure is the firewood that we burn in the open fires in the guest lounge. It appears that firewood, when extracted from managed woodland is considered carbon neutral and therefore exempt from the Scope calculations. However, managed woodland is only carbon neutral on a long timescale. It might take 40 years for the replacement tree to absorb the equivalent Co2 lost by burning its predecessor. This period of time feels too long, and we have therefore decided to offset the carbon lost today through burning firewood by purchasing equivalent offset credits - the idea is that we offset today's emissions with today's neutralising credits.
We have assumed 1.9 kg of Co2e per 1kg of firewood for our calculations. This was the highest estimate we could find in our research and can hopefully be considered to be conservative.
For 2022, we estimate our emissions though firewood burning to be 16 t/Co2e.
The Woodland Fund supports Deforestation Prevention, Reforestation and Woodland Management Projects, with a strong focus on having a positive impact on the local wildlife, ecology and biodiversity. Examples of the most recently supported projects include preventing deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest, reforestation after wildfires in Australia, as well as woodland planting in the UK. 10% of the budget is also spent on projects in Britain.
From the start for calendar year 2020, we chose this fund to offset our certified emissions mainly because of the immediate results that come from deforestation prevention. It is the same logic that leads us to conclude we should offset the emissions associated with burning logs (see above). Our view is that we need to offset our carbon emissions of today with projects that have the most immediate effect. In calendar year 2022 we started using this fund to offset those estimated emissions we calculate beyond the certified tonnage.
Supporting Wind, Solar, Hydro and Cook Stove projects, with a strong focus on offset projects that provide lasting social and economic benefits in lower income countries around the world. Examples of the most recently supported projects include wind and solar projects in Chile, India and the Philippines, Hydro Power in Fiji and Brazil, and Cook Stove Projects in Kenya. Again, 10% of the budget is also spent on sustainable projects in Britain, including tree planting and wind farms.
For 2020 and 2021 we chose this fund to offset those emissions we calculated beyond the certified tonnage.
All of the projects within these funds are certified to the highest standards through either the Verra - Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), the Gold Standard - Voluntary Emission Reductions (VER) or the United Nations - Certified Emission Reductions (CER) programmes. In addition to their impact on carbon sequestration, the projects are also selected based on their direct and indirect impact in supporting education, employment and clean water, as well as having net positive impact on the local wildlife and ecology.
The audit and emissions calculations
Calculating your emissions as a business is a complicated and imperfect process. The outputs are only as good as the inputs and often these inputs are based on estimates.
The international standards used to perform the audit and make the emissions calculations assume that all businesses and consumers in your business and product network take responsibility for offsetting their own emissions. Because in reality this is not always the case we need to make assumptions for additional carbon emissions relating to our product (eg food and drink consumed) and make additional offset purchases. At the moment, this feels like the best way to ensure that our product, as well as our business, is as sustainable and carbon neutral as possible.
Our business and emissions
We have worked hard over the years to improve our sustainability and although there is still a lot of work to be done, we have been relieved by our relatively low carbon footprint.
All of the work that we have done on modernising the heating and hot water systems seems to have paid off and although we still rely on natural gas for heating and cooking in the main hotel, the Scope 1 emissions from this source are relatively modest.
Our Scope 3 emissions are also reasonably under control. Scope 3 is largely driven by the transportation
emissions resulting from the vans and trucks that bring products to us on a daily basis. Because we source
the majority of our stock from within 50 miles this has greatly helped.
Although we are now a certified Carbon Neutral business we need to work towards becoming a Carbon Net Zero business. There is a subtle distinction here but it is an important one. To reach truly Net Zero status, we must eliminate controllable emissions from the business as far as possible and offset the balance.
We have made some good progress towards this in the last couple of years
What's next?
We will continue to work on reducing our impact across all functions of the business. A detailed program will be developed.
We will continue to review our supply network and ensure that we are as efficient as possible, both in terms of number of deliveries per week and in terms of distance travelled.
We will research moving to electric sources for cooking in the kitchen and revisit the alternatives to natural gas for heating and hot water in the main building.
In the meantime, we will continue to measure, audit and offset our carbon emissions in the most effective
way possible. Watch this space!
The annual emissions reports produced by Carbon Neutral Britain Ltd are available for you to read here:
Annual emissions reports
2020 - 2021 - 2022
These reports include details of the reporting standards used, details of the Scopes of Emissions, the assumptions used and the results, measured in t/CO2e for each of the Scopes. All of our carbon neutral status certificates and certificates of offset purchases can be found in the links below.
Carbon Neutral Certificate links
2020 - 2021 - 2022
Carbon offset certificate links (Woodland Fund)
2020 - 2021 - 2022
Carbon offset certificate links (Climate Fund)
2020 - 2021
Knockendarroch has also purchased offsets into the future and, as of November 2023, has 322 t/CO2e of credit to use against future emissions.
Carbon Neutral Britain Statement of Credit - Nov 2023
Knockendarroch Hotel & Restaurant,
Higher Oakfield, Pitlochry,
Perthshire, PH16 5HT
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