Why We Protect, Not Offset

We choose to protect what’s already there, rather than carbon offsetting

We’re all trying to do our bit when it comes to protecting our precious planet - especially as parents with young children. For us, sustainability is not part of a marketing strategy discussed briefly in a board room. It’s a fundamental part of why Kit & Kin was started, and what we exist to do. Our aim is, and always has been, to create products that protect your family, as well as the world our children will grow up in.

So, while many companies choose carbon offsetting programs, we’ve chosen to do things a little differently. Find out why we choose to support biodiversity conservation by protecting our existing rainforests, and what that means for the future of our planet.

Why we choose to protect existing rainforests

What is carbon offsetting
Our mature forests are amazing ecosystems that are already doing the job they’re designed to do - so to us, it makes complete sense to support and protect these areas, rather than create new ones.

Put simply, we’re protecting what’s been around for thousands of years. An acre of these ancient rainforests can lock in 8 times more carbon than new saplings, providing vital homes for endangered species and a staggering amount of biodiversity - and we need to protect these ecosystems by reducing deforestation.

Rainforests are the lungs of our planet. They help slow climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide, as well as producing 20% of earth's oxygen. Whilst planting new trees sounds great on paper, it would take decades for these trees to reach the same heights, and have the same positive impact on our planet as an existing rainforest.

Due to the pace of reforestation, what remains of the worlds’ original forest habitats are now in the single digits. It’s now up to us to protect what is left of these ecosystems, for the sake of our wildlife, biodiversity and planet.

That’s why we’ve partnered with trusted conservation charity, the World Land Trust, and we’ve been protecting our precious rainforests with them since our launch almost 8 years ago. Every time someone buys one of our products, they’re helping us to help the planet.

What is carbon offsetting?

You’ve probably heard many companies saying they offset their carbon footprint, but what does this actually mean?

Offsetting carbon emissions means that any carbon dioxide that arises as a result of a company’s activity (think shipping, manufacturing, big office spaces) is reduced by taking part in carbon offset projects that are designed to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Due to the pressure on companies to achieve ‘net zero’ targets, about a third of companies plan to use offsetting to meet them. They can do this by:

Reforestation: Replanting trees in areas where they've been decreasing in number
Renewable energy: Investing in projects like solar panels
Waste management: Working with waste to create energy sources, reduce pollution, and reduce carbon emissions
Agricultural land management: Removing carbon from the atmosphere and sequestering it in the soil

Is carbon offsetting bad?

Supporting biodiversity by protecting rainforests

Anything we do to help the planet is a great thing, but ultimately, it depends how carbon offsetting is done.

One of the most common offsetting schemes is tree planting. However, if this isn’t managed in the right way, there’s no guarantee a forest will be permanent, or that native species will be planted in the right areas.

It’s not a quick solution, either. It can take up to 40 years for a tree to reach full height, with biodiversity taking around 60 years to recover. A mature or primary forest takes hundreds - or even thousands - of years to be formed.

It’s also important to bear in mind that there’s been a rise in ‘greenwashing’, which means that schemes, and sometimes the companies that use them, make misleading claims and false promises about what they’re doing to offset their emissions.

Put simply, companies aren’t always doing as much as they claim to be, and it’s why we choose to protect our existing rainforests rather than plant new ones.

What have we protected so far?

Since Kit & Kin started, we’ve protected 3,698 acres of rainforest - that’s almost 60,000 tennis courts!

We also help to support remote rainforest communities around the globe, helping them access education and medical care.

Sustainability is not a trend for us

It’s a fundamental part of what we do, and why we exist. Our aim is, and always has been, to create products that protect your family, as well as the world our children will grow up in.

As a B Corp, protecting our planet is at the core of our brand, and it’s a value that’s been there from the very start - which is why we’re doing everything we can to protect our precious ancient rainforests from deforestation.