Carbon Neutral

At Combo, we're big believers in long-term sustainability. As a result, we partnered with Carbon Neutral in 2009 and now offset the energy use of every computer we manage for our clients. Carbon Neutral produced the following case study to capture our ongoing investment in green initiatives...

Established in 2002 and based in Fitzroy, Combo provides IT solutions for small-to-medium businesses throughout Victoria. Having been included on the BRW fast 100 list for the last 3 years, Combo places a strong focus on growth - providing their clients with an IT environment that supports successful expansion rather than hindering growth.

Many companies outside the manufacturing sector don’t consider themselves to be true contributors to the climate change. Combo recognises that office-based businesses, in particular those that rely on a large IT infrastructure, are significant generators of emissions that lead to global warming.

Prior to launching a sustainability initiative in 2009, Director and Founder of Combo, David Markus, identified the need for service businesses to invest in carbon offsets that extend beyond company walls and into the offices of their clients. “We like to lead by example and have committed to offsetting the energy use for every computer that we manage for our clients, during the 2010/11 financial year,” Markus explained. Combo is one of the first service businesses to take such a proactive role in offsetting greenhouse gas emissions.

Combo engaged Carbon Neutral to estimate the average annual power consumption for computers and servers, to determine the offsets required to reduce their contribution to climate change over time.

Carbon Neutral provided Combo with Greenhouse Friendly offsets which are produced from projects within Australia. These Greenhouse Friendly VERs have been created through avoided emissions from a project at the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council waste composting facility in Western Australia. The waste composting facility diverts organic material from landfill from more than 350,000 residents. By removing this organic matter from ending up in landfill, carbon dioxide is produced rather than the much more potent greenhouse gas, methane. This project has been highly rated by Choice Magazine and the Carbon Offset Watch.

“Combo has a very strong view of long-term sustainability in everything it does. We are driven to promote sustainable relationships with our clients, our staff, our suppliers and shareholders - looking after the planet is a natural extension of this core ethos.” David hopes that by embracing corporate social responsibility, this - in turn - will inspire other companies to take positive action regardless of future regulations.

Besides Carbon Neutral’s ability to provide accredited offsets, Combo regards Carbon Neutral as an ideal business partner as they facilitate Combo’s ongoing investment in green initiatives - securing positive growth of the company’s triple bottom line: people, planet, profit.

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