In 2024, we took an important step forward in AVSI’s environmental journey by beginning to collect and analyze data related to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, specifically Scope 1 and 2, with the goal of defining a transparent mitigation strategy. This marks a new chapter in our ongoing commitment to sustainability: integrating environmental responsibility into our daily operations as well as into the projects we implement worldwide.
A clear policy framework
Our Environmental Policy, published on our website, applies to all AVSI offices worldwide. It ensures compliance with local regulations and provides guidelines to reduce our ecological footprint through appropriate planning, organizational, and management processes. We are committed to strengthening the systems that help us identify and assess both positive and negative environmental impacts, and to adopting behaviors that minimize them.
In Italy, these principles are already reflected in everyday practices: eco-islands for separate waste collection, water dispensers for staff, a geothermal heating and cooling system at our Milan office, and a corporate fleet made up of hybrid vehicles under long-term lease agreements.
Measuring our footprint
In 2024, we focused our emissions analysis on our Italian offices in Milan, Cesena, and Lecce, where we directly control energy use and mobility. The study followed GHG Protocol guidelines and the UNI EN ISO 14064-1:2019 standard, using an activity-based approach and updated Global Warming Potential coefficients from the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report.
Our findings:
- Total emissions (2024): 59.223 tCO₂ eq
- Scope 1 (direct emissions, heating and corporate mobility): 29.645 tCO₂ eq (56.8%)
- Scope 2 (indirect emissions from purchased electricity): 22.58 tCO₂ eq (43.2%)
- No emissions were recorded from refrigerant gas leaks or fire extinguisher use.
- Direct emissions mainly came from heating in Cesena and corporate mobility in Milan, while indirect emissions were linked to electricity use across all offices.
This first assessment provides us with a solid baseline to define and monitor future actions.
Offsetting and concrete improvements
To mitigate our 2024 footprint, we offset 52.16 tCO₂ eq through Carbon Sink, purchasing Gold Standard-certified carbon credits from the project “Improved Cook Stoves in Chamanculo C, Maputo (Mozambique), Phase II.” This initiative improves energy efficiency and safety by distributing cookstoves and raising environmental awareness in local communities.
At the same time, we identified priority actions to reduce emissions in our Italian offices:
- Using class A tires in our fleet to increase fuel efficiency.
- Installing heat pumps to replace fossil fuel-based heating systems.
- Including “Guarantees of Origin” in energy contracts to ensure that purchased electricity comes from renewable sources.
A broader commitment to sustainability
Our efforts go well beyond internal operations. In 2024, 161 projects—more than half of all our activities—were related to climate change mitigation, including clean cooking, smart agriculture, reforestation, renewable energy, and environmental education. These initiatives reflect our belief that protecting the environment and fostering human development go hand in hand.
Looking ahead
We know that environmental sustainability is essential for achieving social sustainability. Building on the results of 2024, we will continue working toward a roadmap for carbon neutrality, reducing our ecological footprint while strengthening our contribution to climate action. By combining data-driven analysis, practical improvements, and awareness-raising, we aim to make our work more sustainable every day—for people, for communities, and for the planet.
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