When you begin this journey you'll hear the term "carbon neutral" A LOT. It sounds like something difficult to grasp but it really isn't! Basically, many of the things we do in our daily lives has an impact on the amount of CO2 emitted into the environment. Some of these things include electricity usage, water usage, fuel, etc. The idea of being carbon neutral, or offsetting your carbon, is by reaching a net zero carbon footprint by either stopping carbon releasing activities altogether, or by offsetting emissions. While you can't help to stop these activities altogether, offsetting your emissions is easy to do. This can simply be done by donating to organizations committed to environmental conservation!
While offsetting your emissions is important on the individual scale, it's also important on the larger scale too. A big issue in the sustainability movement is trying to get corporations to understand the harm they bring to the environment and urge them to look for sustainable alternatives. While it's been slow, progress is still progress and each year we are seeing more companies open their eyes to the impact they have on the environment. Similar to the individual, a lot of corporations are also doing their part to offset their carbon emissions.
In this post, I'm going to discuss the variety of companies to their part to offset their carbon emissions. These companies are partnered with Carbonfund.org, an organization that makes it easier for both individuals and companies to offset their emissions. Carbonfund.org works with third party environmental organizations that promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, and reforestation efforts.
If you've followed me for awhile, you know how much I love Earth Hero! Earth Hero is basically your one stop shop for all things sustainable and/or zero-waste! From kitchen to bathroom to clothing, Earth Hero has what you need. More importantly Earth Hero recognizes that while the products they sell are sustainable, shipping these items comes with their own set of carbon emissions. By partnering with Carbonfund.org, they've been able to become completely carbon neutral!
We all know and love Etsy! It's the largest place to support a variety of small businesses; you can also find MANY sustainable small businesses there too! Etsy was the first online shopping destination to completely offset 100% of their carbon emissions solely from shipping. To do this, Etsy is partnered with 3Degrees, where their investments support the protection of forests, wind and solar farms, and the development of greener auto parts. Etsy also plans to have all of their operations, including their marketplace, powered by renewable energy beginning in 2020.
Arbor Teas is a family owned, organic tea company that is based out of Ann Arbor, Michigan. They sell a HUGE variety of sustainably sourced, loose leaf tea for a really good price! Not to mention, all of their teas are come in compostable packaging! This company is also doing their part to offset their carbon emissions. Primarily, they ship most of their teas overseas by freight; this has been deemed as the most energy efficient method of shipping. They also ship their domestic herbs via truck rather than plane as air-transit emits more emissions. Any remaining emissions are offset through their partnership with Carbonfund.org.
Alima Pure is a high-quality mineral makeup brand established in 2004. The mission of the brand is to provide these high quality products using minimal ingredients for a maximum impact. Alima Pure does their utmost best to make all of their operations as sustainable as possible. They strive to reduce their carbon footprint by recycling at local facilities, using energy efficient manufacturing processes, purchasing wind-powered electricity, using recycled materials for printing, and offsetting anything else through Carbonfund.org. Alima Pure is also a member of 1% for the Planet, B Corporation, Leaping Bunny, and PETA.
Brilliant Earth was founded in 2005 and has since been one of the global leaders in providing ethically sourced fine jewelry. I could literally spend HOURS on their website. All of their fine jewelry is primarily made from recycled precious metals; this effectively eliminates the use of dirty mining on their part. Even their packaging, jewelry cleaner, and shipping methods are sustainable! Brilliant Earth is a certified Carbonfree Business Partner and continues to offset emissions they are unable to eliminate.
Clean Cult is a home goods company that specializes in creating sustainable cleaning products for your home. Their products come in zero-waste packaging and are made with coconut based ingredients. While maintaining a sustainable production and providing zero-waste products, Clean Cult still does their part to offset the emissions they cannot eliminate through their partnership with Carbonfund.org.
iFixIt provides repair guides for everyone by everyone. It is literally a community of technician and tinkerers committed to showing other individuals how to repair items rather than to simply dispose of them. iFixIt's sustainability impact is simple; to repair is to recycle. By making these guides and videos available to everyone, and teaching other to take the time to actually repair the item helps to double the life of the item, and keep them out of the landfills. For anything that they're unable to recycle and reuse such as travel, iFixIt turns to Carbonfund.org to offset those emissions.
Infinity Insurance provides car insurance, focusing on your non-traditional insuree. They are known as the first company to have a fleet of carbon neutral company vehicles. Infinity Insurance understands the importance of global responsibility and stresses this to everyone. They also know that sometimes you need a vehicle to get you to where you need to be so they've created a list of ways you can be energy efficient with your vehicle. Check out that list here!
Overstock is one of the largest online retailers that specifically specializes in selling items from stores that are considered as overstock, meaning there is too much on the shelves as opposed to what is actually selling. While not all of the items they have are from sustainable origins, it does help keep these products out of landfills! However, Overstock does have a line handmade items from sustainable and small companies from around the globe. This line is called Worldstock. Overstock provides carbon neutral shipping on all of their Worldstock products at no cost to the consumer. Worldstock's partnership with Carbonfund.org has helped fund deforestation efforts in Brazil.
Paper Culture is your one-stop-shop for all things related to card, invitations, and announcements. All of their paper goods are made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Even the paper goods with foil embellishments are from recycled goods. With each purchase made, a tree is planted! All of their paper is made using wind-powered energy. Paper Culture also offsets all of their emissions as a CarbonFree partner of Carbonfund.org.
On Their Way to Carbon Neutrality
These companies are not exactly carbon neutral yet. However, they are making strides to do so!
For the past seven years, Alaska Airlines has been ranked as the most fuel efficient carrier in the US by the International Council on Clean Transportation. They burn approximately 12-13% less fuel than other carriers. Alaska Airlines along with their sister company, Horizon Air, has the most comprehensive in-flight recycling program of any US airline. The company recycles cups, plastic, paper, and bottles on each and every flight. They are even able to compost the coffee grounds used! Alaska Airlines allows all of their passengers to calculate their carbon footprint due to the flight and help offset their carbon footprint from traveling by donating to Carbonfund.org.
Jet Blue is another airline making their way to offset their carbon emissions. While it isn't possible with the current technology to completely eliminate them since it is air-travel, they stress the importance of offsetting it by partnering with Carbonfund.org.
Staples is the world's largest office product company selling everything from supplies to furniture to software. Staples has made sustainability initiatives by offering more sustainable products in-stores and online to consumers. Through their partnership with Carbonfund.org, Staples has been able to offset their emissions and contribute to the Return to the Forest project in Nicaragua.
WeWork is a website that allows start-ups and small companies to have a space to work an collaborate. You can go on their website and search from hundreds of places across the globe! As of 2018, WeWork has committed to becoming completely climate neutral by 2023. by the end of 2018, they effectively removed all single use plastic from their facilities, and became a meat-free organization, meaning they have not/will not pay for meat in meals sponsored by the company itself. While there is still a few years until 2023, WeWork still strives to continue their sustainability initiatives to meet this goal!