About

ASLA Business Operations Assessments

ASLA has released its first assessment of the greenhouse gas emissions generated by its business operations. This sets the baseline for ASLA as it strives toward its goal of achieving zero emissions by 2040.
 
The assessment details the amounts and sources of greenhouse gas emissions generated in 2023 by ASLA operations. This total includes electricity use, magazine printing and shipping, business travel, employee commuting, waste produced, and more. In total, these emissions add up to 320.5 metric tonnes.

This 2023 assessment was developed in partnership with Honeycomb Strategies, a sustainability consulting company. The company and ASLA team cooperated to collect extensive and complete data:

• monthly business travel and commuting data,
• energy used and waste generated from the ASLA Center for Landscape Architecture, the organization’s LEED Platinum- and Well Gold-certified headquarters, and
• printing, shipping, and online use data for Landscape Architecture Magazine (LAM).

Scope 1 emissions: 0
Direct emissions by ASLA

Scope 2 emissions: 52 tonnes
Indirect emissions from purchasing electricity, etc

Scope 3 emissions: 268.5 tonnes
Indirect emissions from all other goods and services purchased, travel, etc

Of the total 320.5 metric tonnes, ASLA headquarters emitted 124.5 tonnes, or 39 percent, and LAM emitted 196 tonnes, or 61 percent.

Top Emissions Categories

LAM print magazine distribution (112 tonnes)
LAM printing (71 tonnes)
Center electricity use (52 tonnes)
Business travel (26 tonnes)
Employee commuting (22 tonnes)
LAM digital user computer use (13 tonnes)
ASLA.org user computer use (12 tonnes)
LA Bash student conference (10 tonnes)
Center waste (1 tonne)
Center meals (0.5 tonnes)  

The assessment for LAM covered the creation and online use of the magazine. By requesting extensive emissions data, ASLA introduced new carbon estimation and measurement practices to its partners. These kinds of requests encourage greater transparency and efficiency in the printing supply chain.

LAM Print Magazine Distribution

These calculations are based on:

• Weight of each issue
• Number of issues mailed
• Location of distribution centers
• Location of print magazine subscribers in the U.S., Canada, and overseas

LAM Printing

To ensure environmentally responsible sourcing, LAM is printed on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified paper and contains a minimum of 10 percent post-consumer waste.

ASLA Center Emissions

The calculations for the Center’s emissions included such factors as electricity use, employee commuting, and business travel.
 
The Center used 170,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity or 13.4 kWh per square foot – substantially below the 16.9 kWh average annual electricity consumption per square foot for administrative office space, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

• ASLA employees commuted to the office 3,882 times, covering 105,000 miles.
  • 69 percent of trips by car
  • 27 percent by public transit (train, subway, bus)
  • 4 percent by foot or bike
• ASLA employees traveled 228,000 miles on business trips
  • 96 percent of trips by plane
• ASLA produced an estimated 7,280 pounds of waste
  • 71 percent of waste went to the landfill and 29 percent was recycled

Web
 
LAM digital and ASLA.org emissions are based on:

• Number of users
• Time spent reading online content
• Average emissions from users’ home / office energy use (per minute)

Waste

In 2023, ASLA produced an estimated 7,280 pounds of waste. 71 percent of waste went to the landfill and 29 percent was recycled.
 
2024 Reduction Actions

As the 2023 data was collected, ASLA implemented new strategies to reduce emissions in 2024 and beyond. To reduce its emissions this year, ASLA implemented these strategies:

• Purchased renewable energy credits for 100 percent of the ASLA Center’s energy use.
• Promoted benefits and incentives for low-carbon commuting.
• Updated procurement policies to encourage locally sourced and 75 percent vegetarian meals for staff and member events hosted by ASLA at the Center.

Building energy use

Purchased renewable energy credits (RECs) to cover 100 percent of the ASLA Center’s energy use

Supplies and catering

• Updated sustainability procurement policy
• Purchased all green cleaning and 100 percent recycled paper office supplies
• Developed a new policy to offer locally-sourced and 75 percent vegetarian meals for staff and member events hosted by ASLA at the Center

LAM

• Reduced complimentary industry partner subscriptions by 60 percent.
• Partnered with Royle Printing, which:
  • Purchases 24 percent of its power from renewable sources
  • Is enrolled in the city of Sun Prairie’s “Power Wise” Energy Efficiency Program
  • Partners with Midland Paper, which completed the EcoVadis and Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) assessments
  • Partners with Billerud Paper, which assessed their activities through the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and identified six focus areas where they can have the most impact

Employee commuting and travel

• Promoted SmarTrip Metro and bike share benefits, biking and walking incentives, and developed a new carpooling incentive.
• Provided five dedicated bike parking spots at ASLA Center.
• Initiated discussion with the D.C. government on installing a public electric vehicle charger on I Street NW.
• Choose public transit for business trips when possible and opt for electric or hybrid rental or share vehicles if no alternative (e.g. Uber Green)

To empower other organizations and companies to make these changes, ASLA published Towards Zero Emission Business Operations. The guide is designed to help landscape architecture firms of all sizes navigate the transition to zero-emission offices more easily.
 
It outlines more than 110 strategies landscape architecture firms can implement to reduce their business and project greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50 to 65 percent by 2030 and achieve zero emissions by 2040.

Landscape architecture firms: Ask us questions about our assessment or share your experiences reducing emissions. Contact us at climate@asla.org.