Flex 🧡 climate

A carbon footprint includes emissions of various greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and others. It is expressed in a universal unit of measurement – carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂), calculated for a specific organisation, service or product. The conversion from a given greenhouse gas to carbon dioxide equivalent is made on the basis of a factor called global warming potential. It compares the greenhouse gas in question to the same amount of carbon dioxide. For example, CO₂ has a global warming potential of 1, while methane has a global warming potential of 28 (over a 100-year time horizon); therefore, for every tonne of methane emitted, there is the equivalent of 28 tonnes of CO₂.

Renewable energy sources are those that quickly, naturally replenish themselves. Using them does not deplete the Earth's resources, such as fossil fuels. The most important ones are wind, solar and water power (rivers and seas), as well as geothermal energy. Production of energy from these renewable sources does not cause direct emissions of greenhouse gases and pollutants into the atmosphere. Of course, you also need to manufacture machinery and equipment (turbines, panels), deliver them to the site of use and install them properly, which generates a certain carbon footprint. Per unit of produced energy, this is close to zero – many times smaller than for energy production based on fossil fuels (e.g. coal, gas). Therefore, it can be said that renewable energy is practically pollution-free. There are no perfect energy sources, but renewable energy sources are as close it gets! Orange Polska is committed to long-term contracting of renewable energy from specific sources in Poland (through PPAs, i.e. Power Purchase Agreements). Already, around 9% of the energy needs of Orange Polska are met by wind – two wind farms, built by WPD in Wielkopolska (near Jarocin and Krotoszyn) serve our needs. Importantly, all the energy necessary to provide Orange Flex services already comes from renewable energy sources.

Greenhouse gases (expressed as CO₂), such as carbon dioxide, are invisible, but their amount can be calculated. So, we calculate our emissions and take action to reduce them. However, in the end there will always be some emissions that are unavoidable. Then what? They can be offset. This means purchasing the appropriate number of carbon credits – shares in projects that reduce and remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Of course, it's very important that these projects are verified and certified by trustworthy institutions. Why? To make sure that the actual amounts of unavoidable greenhouse gases are reduced and removed from the atmosphere in accordance with the declarations. Each carbon credit offsets 1 tonne of greenhouse gases (expressed in CO₂). Carbon credits are generated by various projects, most often associated with renewable energy sources (e.g. wind farms). They can also be linked to energy efficiency or the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by afforestation. Importantly, they are often conducted in developing countries. This means that not only do they reduce CO₂ emissions, but they also support the sustainable development of local communities. To offset Orange Flex's carbon footprint, we have purchased over 600 carbon credits from South Pole. They are certified by the internationally recognized Gold Standard, recommended by organizations such as the United Nations and WWF. The project we are supporting is being carried out in Colombia. It involves the transformation of savannah areas into biodiverse forests, ensuring the regeneration of the forest ecosystem, while at the same time supporting the local community – creating new jobs and developing skills and knowledge about sustainable development.

At Orange Flex, we made sure that our SIM Flex card has paper packaging. This FSC® Mix logo confirms that our packaging is made of material sourced from well-managed FSC®-certified forests, as well as recycled materials and other controlled sources. By using products with this logo, you help take care of forests in Poland and around the world. Also, the ink we use for printing is plant-based, which further helps us reduce our impact on the environment.