Carbon neutral. Really?
Core value
Making respect for the environment a core value is unconventional, almost counterintuitive, for the propane fuel industry. Yet we are committed to it. Our vision of a healthy and sustainable world is not to eliminate all use of resources, but to ensure that they are used wisely, so that future generations can enjoy them too. That's why we strive to provide a product with as little environmental impact as possible and are committed to continually improving our practices in this regard.
In practice
Propane, like any fuel, produces carbon dioxide (CO2). Specifically, 59.6 kg of CO2 per GJ of energy. In comparison, petrol generates 65.4 kg per GJ of energy. The contents of a tank of 7.7 kg of propane (BBQ size) will have generated 23.1 kg of CO2 and provided 0.4 GJ of energy. To provide the same amount of energy (and cook the same number of hot dogs) requires a minimum of 12.5 kg of charcoal, which when burned generates about 28 kg of CO2. These figures do not take into account the burning of charcoal that continues after the hot dogs are cooked. Furthermore, the environmental footprint of charcoal is more complex to assess than that of propane because of its varying composition, production methods and, most importantly, the way it is used (there is often a tendency to use far more charcoal than is actually needed). Studies tend to show that the use of charcoal, even if sustainably sourced and efficiently produced, as a cooking fuel is 2-3 times more GHG intensive than propane (Johnson 2009, Charcoal versus LPG grilling: A carbon-footprint comparisonJournal of Environmental Impact Assessment Review).
Carbon offsetting and carbon neutrality
By offering you a carbon neutral product, Bonjour Propane commits to offsetting the GHG emissions related to the combustion of the product: the 23.1 kg of CO2 by tank. This compensation is achieved through the purchase of carbon credits, which are withdrawn from the market for the benefit of the environment. These credits are obtained for the reduction of GHG emissions achieved by projects specifically selected for their environmental rigor, and for which Bonjour Propane is certain that the money invested in them will contribute to reducing GHG emissions beyond what would have been achieved without these revenues (this is the principle of additionality). For more information, or to find out about the projects supported by Bonjour Propane, consult the official credit withdrawal register. here.
It's a small contribution, but it shows that we want to do things differently.