We have achieved this incredible milestone by offsetting the carbon emissions associated with the energy use at our headquarters in East Yorkshire, for the year of 2022 through our investment in the Oaxaca IV Wind Energy Project. At Rhinox Group, we believe that renewable energy is a critical solution to addressing the climate crisis, and we are proud to support the development of clean energy projects around the world.
We have partnered with Environmental Strategies Ltd, a leading environmental consultancy and Net Zero Group, a leading carbon offset business, to calculate and verify our energy carbon footprint and offset it against the project. The Oaxaca IV Wind Energy Project generates clean and renewable energy through the use of wind turbines. This reduces the reliance on non-renewable sources and contributes to a more sustainable future.
By investing in this project, Rhinox Group is supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy and contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. We have done this by offsetting our Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon footprint.
The Oaxaca IV Wind Energy Project is located in Oaxaca, Mexico, and is one of the largest wind energy projects in Latin America. It was created to increase the production of renewable electricity and reduce the need for non-renewable energy sources. Currently, non-renewable fossil fuels are the main energy source for the Mexican national grid, so this project aims to drastically decrease this.
The project generates an average of 412,000 MWh per annum of clean energy, which is enough to power approximately 170,000 homes and offset an average of 240,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
Alongside these phenomenal changes, the Oaxaca IV Wind Energy Project has had a significant impact on other environmental and social development projects in the local area. It is part of a larger wind energy project, with two other wind turbine sites producing clean energy for Mexico.
These projects have been able to reforest over 150 hectares of land which has helped initiate numerous wildlife protection programmes, including: a vertebrate rescue programme, bird observation towers and even bat monitoring. As well as this, they have built a sustainability lab that has provided thousands of young people with specialised courses about wind industries and energy. Specifically, 1,080 children aged 6 to 15 have been taught about the importance of nature and biodiversity and over 1,000 schoolchildren have been educated about energy, water and sustainable construction. As well as continual workshops and conferences for students, teachers and professionals about renewable energy.
Alongside this, the Oaxaca IV Wind Energy Project has boosted the local employability rates in the area by providing jobs in the wind power plant itself and training local men and women in various fields to aid their skills. For example, 40 women for the local area have been trained in clothing embroidery techniques and received help in selling these products on.
This is not the end, however! Here at Rhinox, we will be continuing to look at ways to reduce our overall emissions, alongside continuing to offset our scope 1 & 2 emission going forward.
Alongside our carbon footprint, we are also taking other actions towards reducing our overall environmental impact. Our long-standing customers will already know that our smaller parcels come in cardboard that are packed out using shredded, recycling cardboard which we acquire from a local community shop. We also use biodegradable shrink wrap for our pallets, and use electric vehicles as part of our fleet where possible.