GoClimateNeutral started out as a small side project with a big ambition, that took place as soon as the kids had fallen asleep, on weekends and holidays from regular jobs. Ideas saved as phone notes, lots of pitching to friends, and slowly putting the pieces together. Can we build a company offering a simple solution that makes a significant difference for the climate?
Three years later, the answer is clearly yes! We are currently 4500+ members, seven employees, and some 200+ companies on board who have together avoided the emission of 333,836 tonnes of CO2 – that’s so cool!
We are working hard to continuously improve the service, to make even more difference for the climate. As part of this, we have decided to change our name! We are dropping the “Neutral” to become GoClimate – a name we felt is more powerful and straightforward. Also because over time, we will need to do more than just become neutral – and our capacity to go beyond that is also growing.
This is the next step in our improvement process – we have already launched the updated version of the carbon footprint calculator, and we have more exciting things for you in the pipeline. All through, the service we provide remains the same – the monthly subscription is not changing, and the projects we invest in on your behalf are of the same star quality. We have expanded our work with companies and their offsetting, which gives a higher margin than what we charge from individual members. Thanks to that, we get more space to grow.
There are different ways to calculate the carbon footprint of an individual. If you have tried out more than one calculator, you have probably noticed that the questions differ and so do the results. The quick answer to why this happens, is that it depends on which data the calculator is based off, and what assumptions are made. For the GoClimate calculator, we have explained the rationale between the choice of underlying data and the calculations that we base the tool on in the Methodology, which can be accessed HERE
If there is anything in the methodology that you find questionable, please reach out to us! Let us know if you disagree, have a better source of data for something, or how we could improve. The calculator will change over time because emission factors are updated regularly, which means that your result can change in the future. It could also change if we find better data or an even better way to calculate. These adjustments are however most likely minimal, and the biggest change is what you do yourself!
See your carbon footprint as calculated by our tool
We calculate Food with general values from a UK study. Flights are calculated with our own API, and Car with emission factors provided by national sources (so that differs depending on where you are). Housing is using calculations based on national data on energy and electricity usage and national emission factors. Personal consumption, which is the clothes, furniture and other things you purchase, is based on a national average, weighted based on how much you purchase brand-new. To this we add a buffer for Public consumption which is infrastructure, hospitals, education etc.
Curious to know more about your carbon footprint? Read the other posts in this series:
Have you wondered what the climate footprint are for different ways to travel? How big is the difference between flying and taking the train? Now you can use our new travel emissions calculator to see the different emissions from different modes of transportation.
You can easily see that climate emissions from flying and petrol and diesel cars are a lot higher than going the same trip by train or an electric car. The difference between flying and train is quite mad when you start thinking of it.
When you have calculated the travel emissions, please register to offset your emissions as well!
I came across “National Simplicity Day” which is all about simplifying your life, whether it’s decluttering your home or using your electronics less.
I saw this as a great opportunity to challenge my outlook on fashion.
I chose to wear one single dress for 30 days straight.
The dress is one of my favourite items – an organic dress from natural fibers that I got second hand from a clothing rental company that was selling off their old clothes to make space for new ones. So this dress has been pre-loved by many others before me.
Just imagine, not getting to or having to spend a single second for a month about what to wear!
30 days has passed, and I even wore the dress on day 31 because I wanted to.
But here’s my thoughts throughout and after this experience.
Oh but first. Yes, I washed the dress during this month. A few times. I have gotten this question so many times, so thought I’d put it here before getting started so you don’t have to read this thinking I walked around smelling bad for a month. Although it is worth mentioning that because the dress is made from natural fibers, airing it out worked perfectly fine the majority of the time.
You can read more on how to take better take care of your clothes so they last longer here:
I personally quit fast fashion several years ago, moved to sustainable and ethical brands. But I realized after a while that it was still using virgin materials in most cases, and that’s when I decided to quit new fashion as well.
Second hand and upcycled clothing are very easy to find these days when you live in larger cities and through thrifting apps or websites.
So I started buying more clothing than ever before. Because it’s thrifted, so I can get as much as possible without any impact, right?
Well, not really true.
I realized I need to go back to my minimalist approach to fashion.
DAY 1
I noticed a change in my behaviour on the first evening. When it was time to go to bed, I hung the dress up instead of throwing it on the ground as I normally do. I felt I had gained a different kind of respect for the item, knowing how important it would be to me the following 29 days.
Things I’ve done in the dress
Worked
Travelled to Stockholm
Travelled to Läckö Castle
Gone on a date
Gone on a second date with the same person, wearing the same dress both times
Been interviewed on Live TV
On live TV on the Norwegian show God Sommer Norge on TV2
CHALLENGES
I’m not gonna lie.
This wasn’t challenging for me at all.
I only experienced positive things during this month and I’d do it again.
As for weather conditions, I was lucky to not have a pretty stable weather throughout the month, but during colder days or evening I’d jump into a pair of stockings and put a turtleneck under the dress and if needed, a jacket on top.
I think that one of the things that made this challenge so easy was that I chose a garment that I already used a lot and knew that I loved and always felt good in. And that’s how I want all of my wardrobe to be like. Knowing that no matter what I put on, I feel great.
Having fewer items, but where all of them make me feel great when wearing.
WANT TO DO THE SAME CHALLENGE? HERE ARE MY TIPS
Choose an item you already wear often and that you always feel great wearing
Try to pick an item made from natural fibers
You can read more about natural and synthetic fibershere:
Since you’ll be washing the garment in the evening and let air dry during the night, try to opt for one that dries relatively fast
You can always mix up the look with the help of accessories and different hair- and makeup styles
Tell people about the challenge and why. Not only might it make you feel more comfortable seeing your coworkers or class mates every day wearing the same thing (chances are most people won’t even notice) but it also brings awareness to the cause
It doesn’t have to be a dress. It could be a pair of trousers, a blouse or other
Looser fit makes it less likely to get the item smelly from arm sweat (cause even with deodorant, it can happen)
For more posts about Fast Fashion check these out:
Here’s an interesting TED-talk about what some Republicans would like to do to get the world in the right direction regarding climate change. (I suspect the challenge will be to get the big companies affected by the tax on board. But let’s hope this goes well!)
