What are you currently celebrating?
Right now, we're celebrating over a year of carbon-neutral shipping!
As a small business, we have a responsibility to lead and set a positive example of how we can support the Earth in our day-to-day operations.
We're proud to announce that we've reached a significant milestone since going carbon-neutral on shipping! We have successfully made 12,000 carbon-neutral deliveries, removing 15 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This is equivalent to not burning 1600 gallons of gasoline!
When we committed to going carbon neutral, we decided to focus on carbon removal for your shipments rather than just relying on carbon offsets. It is not enough to reduce emissions; we must actively remove carbon from the air. As the CEO of Shopify puts it, "Even if we could offset all future emissions, there's still too much in the air right now. Offsets are better than nothing, but they're not good enough. We've collectively procrastinated so long that the only way to solve this problem is to get carbon out of the air."
With each purchase of Ora Cacao, you are not only enjoying a delicious treat that benefits your health but also supporting the removal of carbon from the air.
Here's how it works: based on the weight and distance of each order, we contribute to Shopify's Sustainability Fund. This fund invests in various carbon removal strategies, including nature-based and advanced tech solutions.
One of the most exciting developments supported by Shopify's Sustainability Fund is the work of Running Tide. They are developing carbon-sequestering buoys to grow seaweed in the open ocean. These buoys will then sink to the bottom of the ocean, effectively storing carbon. In a recent successful pilot test, buoys made of wood waste from the forestry industry removed 275 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere.
This is just the beginning of a hopeful future with a rebalanced climate.
We are thrilled to be part of these initiatives through Shopify's Sustainability Fund. Here are some other incredible strategies that have been implemented:
- Neutralizing 18-wheeler emissions by capturing CO2 with replaceable cartridges.
- Supporting ranchers and farmers in modifying land management practices to keep carbon in the soil.
- Replanting West Coast forests lost to wildfires.
- Removing carbon dioxide from air moving through existing industrial cooling towers.
- Converting wood chips to biochar.
For those interested in a deeper dive into these initiatives and their positive impact, we encourage you to read Shopify's 2022 Climate Report.
As citizens of the Earth, it is our responsibility to find ways to support healthy ways of living, ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy the wonders of our planet.
We are grateful for your continued support in our journey.
If you missed our previous newsletter about our Farmer Climate Resiliency Fund, you can read and support the farmers who grow your cacao here.
