U‑Power introduces red industry green with zero CO2 emissions

At first glance, one would be forgiven for wondering how the production of a safety shoe can have zero impact on the environment when the entire production chain inevitably involves the production of carbon dioxide: the production process of materials and components, assembly, logistics and distribution, and every further step in production.
It is certain that no matter how much CO2 emissions can be reduced to the bare minimum, there remain residual emissions. But these emissions can be offset with specific environmental protection projects that compensate for the carbon dioxide produced.
We are talking about Climate Neutral Now, the United Nations initiative to achieve climate neutrality.

U-Power, a European leader in the work shoes market, is the first manufacturer in the world to present to the public a range of safety footwear that is not only "green"-thanks to the use of recycled materials and compounds originated from renewable sources-but totally Carbon Neutral.

An important contribution to curbing temperature rise and fighting climate change in accordance with the directives of the 2015 Paris Agreement.

Let's take a closer look at what this is all about.

1. CLIMATE NEUTRAL NOW: THE UNITED NATIONS INITIATIVE AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE




2. U-POWER AND THE CO2 OFFSET PROJECT FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THE RED INDUSTRY GREEN RANGE/ASSORTMENT




3. CERTIFIED CARBON NEUTRAL SAFETY FOOTWEAR

CLIMATE NEUTRAL NOW: THE UNITED NATIONS INITIATIVE AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

What does the Climate Neutral Now initiative consist of?

Climate change problems are an issue on the agenda, and urgent action has become imperative. Carbon, first imprisoned in the earth, is being released back into the air by deforestation and intensive agriculture, and then by transportation and industries that dump gigantic amounts of carbon molecules into the air, disrupting the climate system.

Our Earth is based on a balance in which everyone plays a specific role, a fragile and delicate harmony in which everything is connected.

Let's take stock of the situation with some numbers:

• Over the past 50 years (the span of a single lifetime) the Earth has changed much faster than in all previous generations;




• Since 1950 the population has tripled;




• In the last 40 years the ice cap has thinned by 40 percent; The sun's rays penetrate the water heating it and accelerating the warming process;




• It is predicted that by 2050 a quarter of animal species could be at risk of extinction (species are disappearing at 1,000 times the natural rate);




• 50% of coral reefs-an essential link in the species chain-have disappeared;




• 13 million hectares of forests disappear each year;




• 40% of arable land has suffered long-termdamage;




• There could be at least 200 million climate refugeesby 2050.

Our actions affect the Earth, and now is the time to raise awareness and reckon with all that indiscriminate exploitation of resources has produced.

Climate Neutral Now is an initiative launched by the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC ) in 2015, which officially came into effect in November 2016 with the goal of limiting global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius ( preferably 1.5°C) compared to pre-industrial levels.

In order to achieve this ambitious goal to combat climate change, all nations have joined together in a binding agreement for a common cause (Cop26 in Glasgow is these days).

The prime step for change is:

• Provide for the measurement of their climate impact;




• Initiate a pathway to reduce their emissions as much as possible;




• Offset emissions that cannot be avoided through UN-recognized standards.

U-Power has joined this initiative and offsets the CO2 emissions produced in the manufacture of RED INDUSTRY GREEN safety shoes with specific projects designed to cancel the negative environmental impact caused with its production processes.

U-POWER AND THE CO2 OFFSET PROJECT FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THE RED INDUSTRY GREEN RANGE/ASSORTMENT

The project chosen in this first phase is a hydroelectric power plant in Laos for renewable energy production that contributes cross-culturally to sustainable development goals: the Xe Namnoy 2 Hydropower.

The power plant, located in the southern region of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, will go a long way toward contributing to the country's energy self-sufficiency by reducing power generation from thermal power plants that use fossil fuels.

The new power plant harnesses the energy of flowing water to generate clean electricity to be fed into the Laotian power grid, thereby reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the project supports the local economy by creating job and training opportunities for local people, thus contributing not only to the fight against climate change but also to the development of the area where the power plant itself is located.

• 1,048 localpeople benefit from the improvements brought about by the water supply development;




• 83,000 MWh of clean electricity sent to the grid on average per year; and




• Ten (10) jobs for local people during the operational period;




• 46,000 tCO2e saved in one year by replacing some of the power generated by thermal power plants.

Credits purchased by U-Power to offset its carbon dioxide emissions for the production of safety shoes in the RED INDUSTRY GREEN range/assortment amount to 4 ,500 tons.

Offsetting the CO2 emissions produced by U-Power through the purchase of credits results in, a range of products that are fully Carbon Neutral certified!

CARBON NEUTRAL CERTIFIED SAFETY FOOTWEAR

Every style of safety footwear in the RED INDUSTRY GREENrange/assortment is certified Carbon Neutral, guaranteeing eco-sustainability and zero-impact production.

But what exactly does Carbon Neutral certification consist of ?

The Cabon Neutrality (CN) certificate is the certificate dedicated to those who have achieved zero net GHG(Greenhouse Gases) emissions through reduction actions and the purchase of recognized CO2 credits.

RED INDUSTRY GREEN is the world's first range/assortment of work shoes to achieve CN certification and is, in fact, totally Carbon Neutral.

This is a significant achievement that attests to the U-Power brand's focus on environmental issues and the actions put in place against climate change.

The achievement of this important milestone confirms the leadership position of the U-Power Brand in the safety shoes sector and represents a first significant step towards further initiatives aimed at preserving the ecosystem in which we live every day, where Green footwear can be a valuable support for all companies that want to walk the path of sustainability.

Don't Worry, be Green...with U-Power!