Our Commitment to the Environment

Everyone associated with the Santa Cruz Organic® Brand - from upper management to growers in the field - is dedicated to making environmentally sound choices.

In recognition of our efforts to reduce packaging, increase recycling rates and save energy, we have received the WRAP Award (Waste Reduction Awards Program) for the past seven years. This award, from the California Integrated Waste Management Board, shows our ongoing dedication to sustainability.

And most recently, we have begun purchasing renewable energy certificates to offset 100% of the energy used to produce Santa Cruz Organic® products. This commitment prevents more than two million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions from being released into the atmosphere every year.

Organic Products Promote a Healthy Environment

The Santa Cruz Organic® brand has raised awareness for the health and economic benefits of organic agriculture while strengthening the market for organic fruit worldwide.

As a leader in the organic industry, we are helping growers make the decision to choose organic practices for their fields and orchards. By doing this we can have an effect on many areas of our ecosystem. We are proud of our contribution to reducing the release of synthetic pesticides and herbicides into the environment, which have the potential to harm farm workers and local wildlife.

As most conventional farms use pesticides to protect their crops, a number of those dangerous chemicals slowly seep through the soil and into the water aquifer. By avoiding prohibited chemicals, organic farming can help reduce ground and surface water contamination and safeguard drinking water supplies upon which 50 percent of the nation’s population and 95 percent of people living around agricultural areas depend.

Santa Cruz Organic® Recycling Initiatives

In 2006 we achieved a remarkable 96% recycling rate for production, meaning only 4% of what comes into our production facility is disposed via landfill. Since 1996, our recycling program has diverted over 37,000 tons of trash from local area landfill.

The refuse we've recycled would have been enough trash to fill up 2,670 trains cars and create a 28-mile long "trash train." Looked at another way, we have diverted enough 30-foot long, by 10-foot wide, by 6-foot high waste containers from landfill to stack to the top of the Empire State Building more than 35 times!

For seven consecutive years, we have received acknowledgement from the Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP). WRAP acknowledges California-based businesses for their outstanding efforts to reduce waste and packaging, increase recycling rates, and save energy.

What is Renewable Energy?

Renewable energy is produced from any resource that can be naturally replenished, such as wind, solar, biomass, landfill gas, geothermal or small hydroelectric. Conventional methods of electricity generation in the United States use fossil or nuclear fuels – forms of power generation that can be harmful to human health and the environment. In fact, electricity generation is considered the largest source of pollution, worldwide.

Biomass energy comes from any organic matter such as wood, plants, and agriculture residue that can be used to generate electricity. Landfill gas (LFG) is created as solid waste decomposes in a landfill. Instead of allowing LFG to escape into the air, it can be captured, converted, and used as an energy source. Using LFG helps to reduce odors and other hazards associated with LFG emissions, and it helps prevent methane from migrating into the atmosphere and contributing to local smog and global climate change.

Onsite Energy Production

We have invested millions of dollars in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources at our facilities, including significant investments in water treatment to capture methane gas, which is then converted to electricity to power our facility. We also capture all the waste heat from our power generation to assist in the pasteurization process on both of our production lines. The current installation of a 200 Kilowatt Photo Voltaic (Solar Energy) system, in combination with our other on-site power generation, will provide more than 40% of our peak energy needs with renewable sources on site.

Our Promise to Renewable Energy

In addition to our increasing onsite renewable energy generation initiatives, we purchase renewable energy from landfill gas and biomass sources to run the production process for our entire line of great tasting Santa Cruz Organic® brand products. Our organic standards already ensure that we conserve water resources, build soil and support a healthy ecosystem. The purchase of renewable energy helps limit the impact of how we make our products by supporting clean, renewable power instead of polluting fossil fuel such as coal and oil.

Our renewable energy purchase prevents more than two million pounds of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions, a key greenhouse gas, from being released into the atmosphere every year. This is equivalent to the amount of CO2 absorbed by 768 acres of trees or taking 200 cars off the road for an entire year! We continually strive to find additional ways to integrate environmentally sound practices into our business. By supporting landfill gas and biomass energy sources, we are working to close the loop of our production cycle and make our products sustainable from start to finish. You can rely on us to always be thinking ahead and acting in the best interest of families, farmers and our planet.

Our Green Energy is Certified

Just as our organic certification is a public assurance that products have been grown and handled according to strict procedures, we are also purchasing Green-e Certified® renewable energy. The Green-e program certifies that the Green Certificates we purchase meet strict environmental and consumer protection standards established by the non-profit Center for Resource Solutions. Look for the logo on our packaging! For more information on Green-e certification, visit www.green-e.org.

How Do We Buy Renewable Energy?

Green Certificates allow customers anywhere in the U.S. to support the generation of renewable energy by purchasing the renewable attributes of a specific quantity of renewable energy. This ensures that more renewable energy is added to the electricity grid, displacing conventional fuels, such as coal, nuclear or gas from the electricity system. Green Certificates (sometimes called green tags or renewable energy certificates) act like a claim check on each megawatt hour of renewable electricity delivered to the grid. The purchaser of a Green Certificate owns a claim to the environmental savings (such as CO2 reduction) that results from the production of that electricity. Green Certificates contribute to an improved, more sustainable environment - for the good of today and for the benefit of future generations.

Santa Cruz Organic and the EPA Green Power Partnership

The Santa Cruz Organic® Brand is a participant in the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership. This voluntary program aims to stimulate businesses and other organizations to support new, clean renewable energy technologies that will reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation. To see other companies that purchase renewable energy, visit www.epa.gov/greenpower.

Our Partner, 3Degrees

The 3Degrees mission is simple -- to help reduce the magnitude of climate change. It delivers customized, global climate change solutions to U.S. businesses, utilities and institutions. The company engages customers to develop, execute, and communicate sustainability strategies that add value to their brand. Its expertise in sourcing verified carbon offsets and certified renewable energy certificates enables customers to reduce their carbon footprint. Information on 3Degrees may be found at: www.3degreesinc.com.

For more detailed information about renewable energy, and our commitment, please see our Renewable Energy FAQ.