Your impact in perspective: trees, flights, and trips around the world
At Shuttel, we measure how organizations travel: by car, public transport, bike, electric vehicle, and shared mobility. With this, we map out how many sustainable kilometres have been covered and how much CO₂ has been saved as a result.
These figures are valuable, but they don’t always immediately mean something in daily life. A saving of a few thousand kilos of CO₂ sounds impressive, but what does that actually mean? To make it tangible, we translate your organization’s collective results into recognizable examples. This way, you can see at a glance what you have achieved together.
What your CO₂ savings really mean
Trees
A tree absorbs an average of 25 kilos of CO₂ per year (source: Staatsbosbeheer). A saving of 2,500 kilos of CO₂ is therefore equal to the amount of CO₂ that 100 trees absorb in a year.
Flights
A return flight from Amsterdam to London causes an average of 160 kilos of CO₂ per passenger (source: Paul Watkiss Associates / AEA Technology Environment). If you save 1,600 kilos of CO₂, that is equal to the emissions of 10 return flights on this route.
Trips around the world
The Earth has a circumference of approximately 40,070 kilometres. An average car in Europe emits about 0.106 kilos of CO₂ per kilometre (source: European Environment Agency, 2023). Driving one trip around the world therefore causes about 4,250 kilos of CO₂. If you have saved 8,500 kilos, that is equal to two trips around the world by car.
What this means for you and your colleagues
Not everyone can always choose to take a bike or public transport. Sometimes the distance is too great, there’s no public transport nearby, or you first have to take the children to school. That’s why we look at the total sustainable kilometres covered by the entire organization.
This makes it visible how much of a difference you make together. Every sustainable kilometre counts towards the joint result.
In addition, sustainable travel often has extra benefits. Cycling is healthy and a way to clear your head. On the train, you can read, relax, or work while on the go. Electric driving ensures a quieter and cleaner journey. So, sustainable travel is not just about less CO₂, but also about more comfort and vitality in daily life.
How we calculate this
We believe it’s important to be transparent. That’s why we briefly explain here how we make the comparisons:
- Trees: According to Staatsbosbeheer, a tree absorbs an average of 10–40 kilos of CO₂ per year. We use 25 kilos as a practical middle value.
- Flights: Research from Paul Watkiss Associates (AEA Technology Environment) shows that a return flight from Amsterdam to London emits an average of 160 kilos of CO₂ per passenger.
- Trips around the world: According to the European Environment Agency, an average new passenger car in the EU in 2023 emits about 0.106 kilos of CO₂ per km. The Earth has a circumference of 40,070 km. One trip around the world therefore amounts to approximately 4,250 kilos of CO₂.