By Greentech
Lead Team: Bretford, a manufacturer of technology and media
furniture that improves how people work and learn, announced that it has been
awarded CarbonNeutral company certification by reducing its carbon footprint to
net zero in accordance with The CarbonNeutral Protocol.
“We are
among the first in the furniture industry to seek this type of certification,
because we are serious about doing our part to improve our processes and the
environment,” said
Chris Petrick, CEO for Bretford.
Bretford is
reducing greenhouse gas emissions through internal reductions and changes in
manufacturing. Following internal efficiency measures, for each remaining ton
of GHG emissions that Bretford produces, it is purchasing a verified carbon
offset, which guarantees an equivalent amount of GHG is reduced from the
atmosphere through a renewable energy or clean technology project.
Bretford
replaced HID/sodium vapor fixtures with florescent fixtures in its production
facilities, resulting in an increase in brightness by 75 percent and a
reduction in overall kilowatt hours by 40 percent for 2011, when compared to
2010.
To become a
CarbonNeutral company, Bretford’s CO2 emissions were assessed by an
independent third party to determine levels from extraction, processing and
transportation of raw materials; production, packaging and storage within
manufacturing facilities; and volume and mode of transport to customers.
“Many
specifiers are now demanding that companies address their environmental
priorities and are actively looking for providers that can deliver increasingly
sustainable furniture solutions. By achieving CarbonNeutral company
certification Bretford has delivered on this demand,” said Mark La Croix, executive
vice president of business development, The CarbonNeutral Company.
Bretford
supports several carbon offset projects in cooperation with The CarbonNeutral
Company, including: Garcia River Forestry, Yinshan Wind Power and Fiscalini
Farms Methane Capture.
Garcia River
Forestry uses conservation-based forest management to absorb and store carbon
emissions while restoring wildlife habitat and protecting water quality.
Yinshan Wind
Power, a wind power plant supplies the North China Power Grid with approximately
120,000 MWh of clean energy every year. Fiscalini Farms Methane Capture, located
in Modesto, California, uses an anaerobic digester system to capture methane
from cow manure.
Recently,
Bretford announced
its affordable line of UL-approved Flat Panel Multimedia Carts are now
GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified by the GREENGUARD
Environmental Institute and have achieved the GREENGUARD standard for
low-emitting products for the Children & Schools product
certification program.