Enabling Rabobank to support horticulture growers in calculating their CO2 footprints with FastCrop™ Footprint
Automated and instant footprint calculations, supported by footprinting expert Helpdesk
In today’s world, reporting on environmental emissions has become essential for businesses. This is driven by the urgency to fight climate change and by increasing regulations such as CSRD. More and more organizations are committing to reducing their environmental footprints. Rabobank, a Dutch banking and financial services organization, has set up a new service as part of its broader commitment to helping its agricultural clients further reduce their environmental footprints.
Over the past months, we’ve worked with Rabobank to streamline and automate the CO2 footprint calculations from horticulture growers. A key highlight is the collection of primary data from horticulture growers. In this article, we’d like to give some insights on how our digital solution FastCrop™ Footprint enables Rabobank to collect primary data and measure product footprints as well as organization level CO2 footprints, as well as offer targeted, independent advice to growers to help them reduce their CO2 emissions.
Automated and scientific approach for footprint calculations
Rabobank aims to support their horticultural clients in reducing their CO2 footprint and making their businesses more sustainable and future-proof. To realize this, Rabobank reached out to us to set up an automated and scientific approach to calculate CO2 footprints of horticultural growers. Priorities included comparability of the product footprint results across horticultural clients and applicability of the international footprinting standards, such as Greenhouse Gas Protocol and the PEFCR. To meet these needs, we implemented our FastCrop™ Footprint digital solution and set up an expert Helpdesk. This MxNS | Blonk Helpdesk supported growers to fill in their data, ensuring validated and complete footprint results.
With the implementation of FastCrop™ Footprint for Rabobank, we empower the horticulture sector to gain actionable insights into their CO2 footprint, paving the way for a more sustainable future. By combining our digital solution with an expert helpdesk, we could support the growers with filling in their data, ensuring precise environmental footprint calculations. We look forward to further rolling out FastCrop™ Footprint to accelerate sustainable change and support various sectors in achieving its environmental goals.
About FastCrop™ Footprint
FastCrop™ Footprint is a web-based solution which provides precise, location-specific insights into the environmental impact of a product range. Calculations adhere to the latest international footprinting standards, ensuring accuracy and credibility. With instant and actionable results, users can collaborate with supply chain partners to develop effective reduction strategies, driving both sustainability and business value.
Implementation of FastCrop™ Footprint
1. Primary Data Collection & Validation
With an online form we collect primary data from growers, based on their business operations. Only the most critical data entry points are collected, the remainder is complemented with default data. With the Blonk Helpdesk our consultants support growers to fill in the online data form. Besides that, our team advises Rabobank on the quality of the provided data
2. CO2 footprint Calculation
Based on the provided data, our proprietary our Life Cycle Assessment Calculation Engine then generates the CO2 footprint results. In this stage, possible data gaps are automatically filled with high-quality data from trusted secondary data sources.
3. Visual Footprint Results
The CO2-footprint results are instantly available, on the product and organizational level, and visually presented through graphs. On the product level, a contribution analysis gives insights into the different hotspots to the total CO2-footprint. At the organization level, Scope 1, 2 and 3 splits are available.
4. Securely Sharing Results
Footprint results can be downloaded as PDF and are sent to growers in a secure way. Besides that, the results can also be shared with supply chain partners.
Navigating the future with actionable footprint insights
With the first implementation of FastCrop™ Footprint, we continue to build the solution’s features to meet the rising demand for environmental footprint calculations for the agri-food sector. Currently, the FastCrop™ Footprint covers footprint calculations for greenhouse cultivation. Soon, FastCrop™ Footprint will also be available for arable, orchards, and cell (e.g. mushroom) cultivation types. Furthermore, more environmental impact categories will be added to FastCrop™ Footprint.
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Get in touch
Kristine Carter
Interested in learning how FastCrop™ Footprint can address environmental footprint calculation challenges for your organization? To book a consultation or demo get in touch with Kristine.