In recent years, carbon neutrality has become a hot topic of discussion in the corporate world. However, many companies striving for carbon-neutral status are being accused of greenwashing—the act of making false or exaggerated claims about their environmental efforts. At Valiant, we’re committed to doing things differently. We’re not just making promises; we’re making genuine progress, and we’re committed to sharing every step of our sustainability journey transparently.
Tackling the Transport Challenge
As a leader in the furniture hire industry, we recognise that transport is a significant part of our carbon footprint. With a fleet of 27 trucks needed to deliver and move furniture across Australia, transitioning to a fully electric fleet is a long-term goal. But while this remains a costly and complex task, we are not sitting idle. We’ve made it our mission to measure, reduce, and offset our emissions in meaningful ways. It’s all about balancing what we can do now with the bigger strides we’re planning for the future. Learn more about our impact and reduction strategies here >>
"What you measure, you can manage."
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The Importance of Accurate Data
In our recent mini-series with Trace, a leading carbon offset partner, their CEO Catherine (Cat) Long highlighted a vital part of our carbon-neutral journey: accurate data. As Cat explained, "What you measure, you can manage." Over the past two years, we’ve improved how we collect and measure data from our suppliers, logistics, and energy use across our offices and warehouses. This data enables us to make informed decisions about where we can make reductions and how we can take impactful action.
Key Milestones in Valiant's Sustainability Journey
Our sustainability efforts aren’t just about offsetting emissions—they’re part of a larger, long-term strategy that includes everything from waste reduction to the development of eco-friendly products. Below are some key milestones we’ve achieved as part of this journey:
CO2 Offsetting: We actively offset our carbon emissions through verified programs, ensuring that our environmental impact is minimised.
Global Climate Projects: Valiant proudly funds climate initiatives worldwide, supporting sustainability efforts beyond our immediate operations.
100% Paperless Systems: In 2020, we transitioned to fully automated, paperless operations, significantly reducing our office waste and improving efficiency.
Reusable Furniture Covers: To combat single-use materials, we implemented reusable covers for our event furniture, reducing our waste footprint.
Eco-Friendly Office Supplies: We’ve gone green with our office supplies, partnering with Who Gives A Crap for sustainable paper products and Zero Co for eco-friendly cleaning solutions across all of our offices and warehouses.
Recycling Initiatives: We participate in recycling programs like Nespresso Pod Recycling and Containers for Change in NSW, VIC, and QLD, encouraging responsible waste management across our offices.
Sustainable Furniture: Over 70% of our indoor event furniture is upholstered in 100% recycled fabrics, with our new ReforaStone range crafted entirely from recycled plastics. This shift not only supports environmental conservation but also delivers high-quality, stylish furniture solutions to our clients.
Tree Planting Initiative: In 2023, we launched an initiative to plant trees 🌱 on behalf of attendees at our annually hosted events. This program fosters conversations about sustainability with our clients and encourages them to take their own small steps toward positive environmental impacts.
"Every business can play a role in shaping a more sustainable future."
We encourage our clients to reflect on the small changes they can implement in their operations, whether through choosing eco-conscious suppliers like us or launching their own intiatives. Small actions, when combined, can lead to significant change.
Real Progress, One Step at a Time
Sustainability is not something that happens overnight - it's a long-term commitmnet that requires consistent effort. At Valiant, we're proud of the progress we've made so far, from C02 offsetting to global climate projects, and we know that each milestone we achieve gets us closer to our goal of a carbon-neutral future.
If you're interested in learning more about journey, check out the Valiant x Trace mini-series where we dive deeper into our sustainability efforts and explore how businesses can balance short-term actions with long-term environmental goals.