The LEGO Group is committing DKK 19 million to four carbon removal projects in partnership with Climate Impact Partners and ClimeFi. The projects span from 2024 to 2026 and focus on biochar, enhanced rock weathering, and reforestation. All of these are meant to support the growing portfolio of climate solutions. It is an extension of the partnership already existing between the company and Climeworks, focusing on direct air capture and storage.

Supporting Carbon Removal and Biodiversity

In line with its commitment to sustainability, the LEGO Group is working on innovative carbon removal strategies beyond its supply chain. Annette Stube, the Chief Sustainability Officer, expressed pride in supporting the climate initiatives, believing they would positively impact the broader environmental ecosystem.

She highlighted that innovative, high-quality carbon removal projects and emerging technologies could play a crucial role in fostering a more sustainable future. She also noted that reforestation could enhance biodiversity. Stube emphasized that these partnerships would help the company expand its understanding of new technologies and practices to support a healthy planet for future generations.

Biochar and Enhanced Rock Weathering Solutions

LEGO’s partnership with ClimeFi will support two biochar projects and an enhanced rock weathering solution. Biochar turns waste biomass into stable carbon, while enhanced rock weathering accelerates natural processes by spreading rock powder on fields. Both approaches offer the added benefit of improving soil health in addition to carbon removal.

Also read: Trafigura Expands Carbon Removal Project in Colombia with $100 Million Investment

Reforestation Project in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley

LEGO also partners with Climate Impact Partners for a major reforestation initiative in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, USA. The GreenTrees platform leads a reforestation project to restore 400,000+ hectares, boosting biodiversity and improving Mississippi River water quality. This large-scale reforestation also provides added benefits like improved flood protection and reduced nutrient run-off.

The LEGO Group is committed to reducing emissions and exploring innovative solutions to help drive the global net-zero transition.

4AIR, one of the major leaders in aviation sustainability for global business, partnered with ForeFlight to launch their integration, letting users automate a number of mandatory reporting requirements. It is looking to simplify adherence to the mandates from the ReFuelEU SAF, one of the primary drivers of efficiency and automation work that aircraft operators are expected to handle.

The EU’s Fit for 55 package includes the ReFuelEU regulation, which aims to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030. Starting January 1, 2025, aircraft operators with over 500 flights from major EU airports must comply with an anti-tankering provision. The rule requires fuel suppliers to provide 2% SAF at major airports and fines operators who tanker fuel from elsewhere.

Operators must track their expected fuel usage and report it against what they actually uplift to avoid fines. Operators who do not meet the required thresholds will face penalties double the cost of fuel. Exemptions can be requested, but they must be properly documented.

Simplifying Compliance with Automation

Kennedy Ricci, President of 4AIR, said, “Aviation has a complex and rapidly changing regulatory environment, which creates a challenge for aircraft operators as they look to ensure their operations are abiding by national and international regulations.”

He added, “By automating the collection of flight planning data, we are not only simplifying the reporting process but also empowering operators to focus on their core operations. This new offering underscores 4AIR’s commitment to making sustainability solutions accessible for the entire aviation industry.”

Integration Enhances Reporting and Reduces Workload

Through this new integration, ForeFlight users can automatically gather flight planning data required for ReFuelEU’s annual reporting. The system also supports operators in claiming exemptions, helping them reduce the risk of penalties. This process significantly cuts down the manual effort traditionally needed for compliance reporting.

Additionally, the integration can be used to forecast contrail emissions before flights, giving operators insights into their non-CO2 impact. This aligns with the expanded non-CO2 monitoring and reporting requirements under the EU Emissions Trading System, effective January 2025.

Also read: DHL Express Partners with Cosmo Oil to Procure Sustainable Aviation Fuel in Japan

Free Integration for ForeFlight Customers

ForeFlight CEO Tim Schuetze stated that sustainability and regulation remain significant challenges for their customers. He explained that the ForeFlight ecosystem simplifies the information flow, enabling customers to spend less time gathering data and more time addressing other complex tasks.

All existing ForeFlight customers can access the integration at no extra cost, helping operators meet new environmental regulations effortlessly.