Afrika Rose’s carbon-offset project pitches into Kenya’s forest conservation

A carbon offset is a reduction in carbon emissions made in order to compensate for emissions produced elsewhere. In June, Tokyo-based business Afrika Rose, which imports and sells high-quality roses from Kenya, launched a carbon-offset program to plant trees in Kenya, in order to compensate for the CO2 emissions generated by rose production and delivery.

Afrika Rose was founded by Megumi Hagiuda, a Japanese businesswoman who followed her dream to create stable employment in Kenya. When she saw the large-headed, beautiful and long-lasting Kenyan roses during her time in Kenya, this business idea came to her. Since then, the company has been working with a local rose farm to build a sustainable business partnership.

How COVID-19 effect gave birth to the the carbon-offset idea

The company’s latest project came about amid the global pandemic. While COVID-19 affected many businesses across the world, it also brought about a temporary reduction in daily CO2 emissions. Inspired by this surprising news, Afrika Rose decided to get on board with carbon-reduction efforts, forming an environmental team within the company.

Firstly, the team decided to calculate how much CO2 emissions their rose imports cause. According to their estimate, using airplanes and trucks to have 1,500 roses delivered from Kenya to their stores in Tokyo produces 2,170kg of CO2 emissions. This means that one rose emits, on average, 1.4kg of CO2.

The team also discovered that the Kenyan government is aiming to increase national forest cover from 6% to 10% by 2030 to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change. Deforestation has been a major problem in Kenya. The country saw a huge drop in forest coverage between its independence in 1963 and 2009, as a result of industrial activity and urbanization.

Buying a rose can contribute to planting trees in Kenya

For Afrika Rose’s carbon-offset project, customers are invited to add five yen per rose they purchase towards planting trees in the Great Rift Valley, Kenya. In June alone, these donations totaled 5,195 yen. The company imported 8,050 roses in June, and estimating 11,270kg of CO2 emission. Combining customers’ donations and the company’s contribution, a donation of 15,000 yen was presented to a forest conservation group. Consequently, 12 trees that would be planted in the Great Rift Valley.

Afrika Rose explains that customers have received the project favorably. Moreover, donation boxes were placed at the storefront based on customers’ suggestions. The company also plans to expand this project to their online shop by the end of 2021, so that this project would reach customers more widely.