When Earthbound Farm’s founders began farming organically more than 25 years ago, they committed to caring for the land responsibly and sustainably — and that spirit of environmental stewardship continues through every aspect of the company today.
Earthbound Farm understands that its responsibility goes beyond using Earth-friendly organic farming methods to produce the highest quality, safest products. The company is constantly looking for ways to reduce the impact of its business on the environment wherever possible.
In 2009, Earthbound Farm’s organic farming operations on more than 33,000 acres will:
- Avoid use of over 305,000 pounds of toxic and persistent pesticides
- Avoid use of nearly 10.3 million pounds of synthetic fertilizers
- Conserve an estimated 1.6 million gallons of petroleum by avoiding use of petroleum-based fertilizers and pesticides
- Sequester carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, at an estimated rate of 3,670 pounds per acre each year. For Earthbound Farm, that’s equal to taking about 7500 cars off the road.
- Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) materials are environmentally friendlier choices
This year, Earthbound Farm made an industry-first switched to 100% PCR PET plastic for all clamshell salad packages.
Post-consumer recycled PET is made from plastic products, like soda and water bottles that have been used and then recycled. PCR materials use a fraction of the resources to produce and re-use what might otherwise wind up in a landfill. Annually, compared to using virgin plastic, the company’s switch to PCR PET will save:
- CO2 emissions: 16,191 tons
- Energy: 424,224 million BTUs
- Solid waste: 1,308,623 lbs
- Water: 68,307 gallons
Earthbound Farm shipping cartons are also post-consumer recycled — made from 99% post-consumer/1% post-industrial recycled corrugate. Based on the company’s annual usage, compared to the 50% recycled corrugate used previously, annually this switch will conserve:
- 106,594 trees
- 2,382,603 gallons of oil
- 18,811 cubic yards of landfill space
- 25,081,030 kilowatts of energy
- 43,891,803 gallons of water
Better fuel choices
Earthbound Farm now uses cleaner-burning biodiesel in much of its farm equipment, in its local delivery truck, and company vehicles.
Since 1999, Earthbound Farm has planted more than 550,000 trees with American Forests to offPlanting trees helps offset greenhouse gas emissions set greenhouse gas emissions from our energy use. These trees will absorb about 183,000 tons of CO2 during their lifetimes.
For additional information, visit Earthbound Farm.
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