Why do brands offset their carbon footprints?

Building a sustainable brand requires a deep connection to our planet, consumers and the cause. We brought together four carbon neutral brands to share their stories: Brianna Kilcullen of Anact, Barkha Bhatnagar Das of Greendigo, Adam Chuntz of BN3TH and Vik Giri of Gallant International. The session was moderated by Marci Zaroff, the founder of ECOfashion Corp.

 

Connecting with the planet at every opportunity

From establishing a sustainable supply chain to carbon offsetting, eco-fashion brands exemplify a deep connection to our planet, its protection and future. For Brianna, “there are many things you cannot control, especially when you don’t own your supply chain. Being able to offset your carbon emissions, you suddenly have control over what you previously did not.”

“While we have consciously built our supply chains to reduce carbon emissions where possible, the unavoidable emissions still need to be addressed by way of offsets,” Barkha explained as she shared Greendigo’s commitment to the environment and their impact. For Adam it was critical to “tie up loose ends that come from producing a good” through carbon offsetting. By going the extra mile and turning their products carbon neutral these brands have exemplified their pledge to truly leave nothing behind.

Marci also reminded us that “when you have very biodiverse soil, it serves as a sponge and absorb carbon out of the atmosphere.” So, she urges us to “choose regenerative materials so we can all be part of the solution rather than the problem when it comes to carbon and climate change.”

Supporting your supply chain and triggering real change

These brands who have worked so hard to establish green supply chains, have a strong connection to the people who are the backbone of their business. Green Story’s carbon offset system allows them to give back to the communities and geographies where their supply chains are located, deepening their bonds.

Vik “recognizes that many people may consider carbon offsetting a band aid solution, but it has many benefits.” He has chosen projects in India, close to his supply chain, and “looks forward to the jobs, income streams and development that offset projects will generate.”

As vocal as green fashion brands are about the environment, there is a human element as well. These brands use their platforms to inspire change and amplify social messages. For Brianna, when choosing her carbon offsetting projects, she looked at the current environmental climate in California. She chose a project based in the US to “empower the people and show them that there are initiatives addressing climate change that they can support by voting with their dollars.”

The key to connecting with consumers, for Adam, is “showing them that you’re investing in something other than just making money. If you can invest in the future of the planet and translate that to the customer, you’re winning on both sides.” He points to Green Story’s impact metrics as a method of “putting data out there and giving consumers the option to make an informed decision.” He envisions a future where people “look at carbon impacts the way they look at calories on a food label.”

Through genuine care for the interconnectedness of our eco-system we can come to a point, as Marci put it, where “it’s not why sustainable or carbon net zero – its why not?” The question truly is, why not?

 

 

Adam Chuntz
Director of Integrated Marketing, BN3TH

Adam Chuntz is an imaginative marketer based in beautiful Vancouver, BC, with a robust background in strategy, design, development and creative direction.

Vik Giri
Founder, Gallant International

Vik Giri is the Founder of Gallant International Inc., a B Corp Certified based in California a brand that provides 100% customizable organic cotton products.