In just over a year, 276 companies have made more than 1,000 commitments directly aimed at reversing climate change.

Erin Callahan, Director

July 18, 2018

2 Min Read
Natural products companies surpass 1,000 commitments to climate action

Honest Tea today announced commitments to fighting climate change by reducing the climate impact of packaging and reducing short-lived climate pollutant emissions, surpassing the 1,000th commitment to climate action made by companies in the natural products industry since the Climate Collaborative’s launch in 2017.

“From our first day of business 20 years ago, our mission has always been to reduce our environmental impact as we scale the business,” said Seth Goldman, co-founder and TeaEO emeritus of Honest Tea. “We are proud to take a stand with the Climate Collaborative to fight climate change and challenge ourselves with respect to our impact on the environment."

Through the Climate Collaborative, the natural products industry is spearheading a movement to transform the industry’s approach to climate change. Just as they successfully did with organic, fair trade and non-GMO, natural products companies are coming together tackle the most urgent issue of our time. In just over a year, 276 companies have made over 1,000 commitments directly aimed at reversing climate change. Commitments include switching to renewable power, reducing the climate impacts of packaging and transportation, integrating carbon farming practices into their supply chain, reducing food waste and more.

“We're not just running toward a low-carbon future because of climate change. We're running toward it because it's better,” said former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy in her keynote at Climate Day at Natural Products Expo West in March, adding, “Businesses are stepping up and saying that my customers and business must address climate change because it threatens our economy."

These companies represent an estimated $10+ billion in annual revenue and are helping to shape the industry’s response to climate change. The Climate Collaborative recognized a select group of leading companies through the inaugural National Co+op Grocers Climate Collaborative Awards this spring. Organic Valley, one of the winners, is investing in a community solar partnership to reach its goal of becoming 100 percent renewably powered by the end of 2019 while also increasing access to solar energy in Wisconsin by 15 percent. Another winner, Lotus Foods, has developed a More Crop Per Drop rice intensification system that is raising wages in their supply chain, increasing productivity and dramatically reducing methane emissions—a decrease of 54 percent!

Learn more about the Climate Collaborative’s commitment areas and the companies who are leading the way on climate change on the collaborative's website.

About the Author(s)

Erin Callahan

Director, The Climate Collaborative

Erin is the director of the Climate Collaborative, responsible for management and execution of the collaborative’s work, including all programming, communications and outreach. Erin has a range of corporate campaigning and sustainability experience. She previously worked for CDP, managing corporate engagement for the We Mean Business coalition’s commitments campaign. In that role, Erin worked with hundreds of the world’s largest companies, industry groups and investors, supporting them in making leadership commitments on climate change. She has also worked in public relations and international development and earned a master’s degree in international relations and economics from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. She is based in Brooklyn, New York.

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