**Expanded Sustainability & Social Responsibility Strategy**
Boaz Trading PLC integrates sustainability into its core operations, aligning profit with purpose to address Ethiopia’s energy poverty and environmental challenges. Below is a detailed roadmap for its clean cooking initiatives and carbon reduction efforts.
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### **1. Clean Cooking Fuel Initiative (2% of Profits)**
**Objective**: Transition 50,000 rural households from biomass (wood/charcoal) to clean cooking solutions by 2025, reducing indoor air pollution and deforestation.
**Allocation & Execution**:
| **Initiative** | **Budget (Year 1: ETB 165,000)** | **Impact** |
|-------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| **LPG Cylinder Distribution** | ETB 100,000 | Subsidize 6kg LPG cylinders for 1,000 households (50% discount). |
| **Biogas Partnerships** | ETB 50,000 | Build 50 biogas digesters using cattle waste in Oromia region. |
| **Awareness Campaigns** | ETB 15,000 | Train 200 women-led cooperatives on clean cooking benefits. |
**Partnerships**:
- **NGOs**: Collaborate with *SNV Ethiopia* for biogas technology.
- **Government**: Align with Ethiopia’s *National Clean Cooking Strategy* to access grants.
- **Microfinance**: Partner with *Dashen Bank* for low-interest LPG stove loans.
**Metrics**:
- **Health**: Reduce respiratory illnesses by 30% in target households (WHO estimates).
- **Environment**: Save 5,000 tons of CO2/year (1 cylinder = 1.5 tons CO2 reduction annually).
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### **2. Energy-Efficient Logistics**
**Objective**: Cut supply chain carbon emissions by 25% by 2025 through tech-driven optimization and renewables.
**Initiatives**:
| **Action** | **Investment** | **Emission Reduction** |
|--------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| **Solar-Powered Warehouses** | ETB 1.5M (Year 1) | 40% lower diesel use in Addis Ababa storage. |
| **Rail Transport Optimization**| ETB 0.5M (route planning AI) | 15% fewer road shipments (cuts 200 tons CO2/year). |
| **Green Fleet Transition** | ETB 2M (Euro VI trucks by 2025)| 30% lower emissions vs. current fleet. |
**Technology**:
- **IoT Sensors**: Monitor fuel efficiency in real-time (partner: *Siemens MindSphere*).
- **Blockchain**: Track carbon savings transparently for ESG reporting.
**Certifications**:
- Target ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) by 2024.
- Align with UN SDG 7 (Affordable Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
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### **Community Engagement**
- **Women Empowerment**: Train 500 women as LPG distributors, creating 200+ jobs.
- **Reforestation**: Allocate 1% of carbon savings (500 tons CO2/year) to plant 10,000 trees in deforested areas.
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### **Financial & Strategic Alignment**
- **ROI Synergy**: Clean cooking initiatives open rural markets (10% revenue growth in Year 3).
- **Cost Savings**: Solar warehouses cut energy costs by ETB 300,000/year.
- **Investor Appeal**: Attract ESG-focused funds (e.g., IFC, AfDB) with measurable impact metrics.
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**Conclusion**
Boaz’s sustainability strategy transcends philanthropy, embedding environmental and social gains into its business model. By converting 2% of profits into clean energy access and slashing emissions via smart logistics, Boaz positions itself as a leader in Ethiopia’s green transition while future-proofing its operations.