Carbon Star Ranking: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding and Reducing Carbon Footprint in Street Furniture Projects

As part of our ongoing exploration of the Astra Carbon Footprint Tracker's six symbols, this article delves into the Carbon Star Ranking system. By understanding the significance of our Carbon Star Ranking and considering key statistics, you can make informed decisions when selecting street furniture that minimises the carbon footprint of your projects and promotes sustainability.

Understanding the Carbon Star Ranking

The Carbon Star Ranking system is an innovative tool developed by Astra Street Furniture to indicate the carbon footprint of each product. The amount of embodied carbon in a product is your tool towards calculating the carbon footprint of a project and any offsets that may be required to achieve a net-zero outcome. This star symbol is part of the Astra ranking system and indicates how one product compares to another. Five stars indicates the best rating with the least carbon content and 1 star indicates the highest carbon content.

Why is our Carbon Star Ranking Important?

• Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), human activities have potentially caused a 1.0°C increase in global temperatures since the pre-industrial era, primarily due to the emission of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. By selecting street furniture with a higher Carbon Star Ranking, you can contribute to reducing carbon emissions and mitigating the impacts of climate change.

• Compliance with Regulations and Standards

Governments and regulatory bodies worldwide are increasingly implementing measures to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable development. For instance, the European Union's 2030 climate and energy framework aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% compared to 1990 levels. In Australia, the government's current target is to reduce carbon emissions by 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2030. By choosing products with a higher Carbon Star Ranking, you can ensure compliance with such regulations and contribute to meeting global emission reduction targets.

• Enhanced Reputation and Corporate Social Responsibility

Companies that prioritise sustainability and demonstrate a commitment to reducing their carbon footprint can enhance their reputation and foster customer loyalty. According to a 2020 survey by IBM and the National Retail Federation, 77% of consumers surveyed consider sustainability an essential factor when making a purchase. By selecting street furniture with a higher Carbon Star Ranking, you can showcase your commitment to sustainability and appeal to environmentally conscious customers and clients.

How Astra Street Furniture Calculates Carbon Star Ranking

Astra Street Furniture's team calculates the Carbon Star Ranking by analysing each product's embodied carbon or carbon content. This is measured in kilograms of CO2 equivalent per kilogram of product mass. Whilst that the carbon star ranking system gives you a quick overview of each products carbon content, Astra also provides the exact figure of embodied carbon which can be found by logging into the Astra website and viewing each product and their exact embodied carbon figure. The team works closely with our local manufacturers and conducts extensive research to ensure the most accurate carbon content information possible at the time of publishing. 

Conclusion

The Carbon Star Ranking system is a valuable tool for understanding and reducing the carbon footprint of street furniture projects. By selecting products with higher rankings, you can contribute to the global effort to combat climate change, ensure compliance with regulations and standards, and enhance your reputation for sustainability. Astra Street Furniture is committed to providing you with eco-friendly, high-quality products that enable you to create sustainable and aesthetically appealing urban spaces.

To access the Carbon Star Ranking for any Astra Street Furniture product, visit our website, select a product of interest, and look for the six blue symbols representing the Astra Carbon Footprint Tracker.