María Flowers, a flower importer company, and LATAM group have successfully offset 1,297 tonnes of CO2 through strategic conservation projects in South America. This compensation corresponds to the total CO2 emissions from all its flower shipments transported with the cargo subsidiaries of the LATAM group in 2023. With this milestone, María Flowers became the first flower client to participate in LATAM group’s CO2 compensation program, becoming an strategic sustainability partner.
In 2023, María Flowers transported over 1,300 tons of flowers from Colombia and Ecuador to Miami. To offset the carbon emissions associated with these shipments, the company joined LATAM Cargo’s “1+1: Offset to Conserve” program and compensated 648 tons of CO2 in the region, representing 50% of its emissions. The remaining 50% was covered by the cargo subsidiaries of LATAM group, resulting in a total impact of 1,297 tons of CO2 offset.
“As part of the commitment to sustainability through the ‘1+1 Offset to Conserve’ program, we collaborate with clients to conserve some of the world’s most relevant ecosystems, making a positive impact on the environment. We thank María Flowers for joining this initiative and promoting more sustainable practices in the flower industry in South America,” commented Cristina Oñate, VP Marketing and Product Development at LATAM Cargo Chile.
“We are excited to take this important step towards sustainability for the floriculture sector thanks to this excellent carbon offset program created by LATAM group. For Maria Flowers Inc. it is a great honor to be LATAM Cargo’s first sustainability partner in the floriculture sector,” said Felipe Villamizar, president of Maria Flowers Inc.
The contribution made by LATAM group and María Flowers benefited projects with prestigious certifications such as Gold Standard, VCS, CCBA and Bio Carbon Registry, that stand out for their high environmental and social value in Colombia, Chile and Peru. These projects include “CO2Bio,” aiming to protect floodable savannas in the Orinoco region in Colombia; the “Cururos Wind Farm ” in Chile, aiming to reduce dependence on non-renewable resources; and the “Nii Kaniti Community Forest Management” in the Amazon rainforest in Ucayali, Peru, to prevent deforestation and ecosystems degradation through sustainable community forest management.
1+1 Offset to Conserve Program
Through the “1+1: Offset to Conserve” program, LATAM group’s cargo subsidiaries invite their clients to collaboratively offset the total amount of CO2 emissions generated by their shipments. Clients only need to cover 50% of the compensation cost, as LATAM Cargo will cover the remaining 50%.
Clients can access a platform that calculates their CO2 footprint and offers compensation alternatives through the purchase of carbon credits. These credits support internationally-certified projects in South America, generating an impact on the environment and communities. Clients have the flexibility to choose the compensation frequency, the project of interest, and the percentage of their total emissions they wish to offset.
By participating in the program, clients receive a detailed monthly report with the actual emissions from their shipments, calculated using a methodology developed by LATAM Group’s cargo subsidiaries based on IATA and ICAO standards, and emission factors based on LATAM Group’s operations.
