Gaia Herbs Sustainability Report 2020 - Report - Page 43
ADDRESSING THE CLIMATE CRISIS
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element of our core operations. Climate change is the biggest threat
that we face on this planet, and we are working hard to adapt,
mitigate, and in some cases, reverse climate change in every aspect of
our operations. We do this through inter-departmental collaborations,
as well as industry alliances.
One of those organizations is the Climate Collaborative, a natural
products industry organization that helps businesses advance their work
on climate change through educational programming and partnership
development. In partnering with other like-minded brands, the goal is to
KEEPING OUR PLANET HEALTHY
On average, packaging accounts for about 5% of the energy used in the
lifecycle of a food product, making it a significant source of greenhouse
gas emissions. Implementing sustainable design thinking is an
important step in aligning our business strategies with climate action.
Since 2011, we have worked with Pratt Industries to obtain our
shipping boxes, working in a closed-loop system that not only saves
forests from deforestation but also saves water, reduces landfill
waste, and decreases CO2 emissions.
take action, create climate solutions, and be a catalyst for change.
This past year, Gaia Herbs was invited by the Sustainable Food
Our product cartons are made from 100% recycled paperboard
Trade Association (SFTA) to participate in their pilot Climate Action
sourced from FSC-certified forests. We also use TreeZero™ paper,
Management Primer (CAMP) tool. SFTA has been a crucial partner
which is a no-tree, carbon-neutral source of paper derived from
to us, and by utilizing this tool, we have been able to make significant
sugarcane pulp, as our standard copy paper in all our offices.
progress within our overall Climate Action Plan.
The goal of our Climate Action Plan is to develop a roadmap to assess
our climate impact and develop strategies to reduce our overall carbon
footprint. In 2019, we began our greenhouse gas inventory, identified
climate hotspots, and completed a climate materiality assessment –
all of which have been essential to inform our 2020 planning.
“Instead of being a bystander and adapting to climate change, Climate
Action Plans enable us to develop mitigation strategies related to
climate impact,” Czeczuga said. “It is important for Gaia Herbs to
create a Climate Action Plan so we can continue to understand where
we have the most impact, and where there is most potential to have a
positive impact, such as in our regenerative agriculture practices.”
Beginning in 2016, we also implemented a composting program. We
only use compostable dishes, utensils, and cups for company events,
and ensure all compostable material is disposed of correctly.
Biodiesel from Blue Ridge Biofuels is used in all our tractors on the Gaia
Farm. This biodiesel is made from recycled vegetable oil that Blue Ridge
Biofuels picks up from local restaurants in Western North Carolina.
These are a few ways that we are working to make a positive impact
and keep our planet healthy.
SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2019 // Purpose // P.43
Ensuring the health of the planet for future generations is an essential