YOLO COLORHOUSE'S GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION EFFORTS
We can all be part of creating a future with a much lower contribution to global warming. The first step is to understand our carbon footprint. Then, the important work is reducing it measurably over time toward a carbon-neutral economy.
A carbon footprint generally encompasses the overall greenhouse gas (GHG) contributions from a company's operations - from raw material acquisition to the product's end-of-life. Typically, major sources of GHGs include electricity and natural gas consumption in manufacturing and facilities, as well as transportation of raw materials and finished products.
What is the carbon footprint of paint?
Surprisingly, the paint manufacturing process is not energy-intensive. In fact, as is shown on the pie chart, our use of energy in our offices contributes more to our greenhouse gas impact than making our paint. Therefore, manufacturing represents a very small portion of YOLO Colorhouse®'s carbon footprint. Our finished product, however, is quite heavy at roughly 11 pounds per gallon. As a result, transporting our paint from production facilities to warehouses and, ultimately, to our dealers comprises the bulk of our footprint. Note that our footprint is a work in process. We are calculating raw material acquisition, product use and end-of-life emissions and will continue reporting our progress.
How YOLO Colorhouse is reducing its carbon footprint
Because the largest portion of our footprint is from the transport our product, we focus intensely on shipping most efficiently. This is why we:
- Participate in the EPA's SmartWay Transport Partnership.
- Use the lightest packaging possible with 100% post-consumer content.
- Ship by rail from production to warehouse as much as possible.
- Encourage our trucking partners to use biodiesel.
In addition, we purchase renewable energy at a level equivalent to 100% of our electricity and natural gas consumption. In effect, we're offsetting the greenhouse gas impact of energy usage in our offices while supporting the development of a green-powered future for the next generations.
We have an extensive alternative commuting program for our employees, and more than half of us bike to work during the peak biking season.
Engaging others in encouraging a lower-carbon future.
We've invited our retail partners to join us in reducing our collective impact on global warming. The following dealers have pledged to be Carbon Footprint Challenge Partners by reducing their carbon footprint by 10% over the next year.
These are our dealers who have pledged to be a Carbon Footprint Challenge Partner.
- Alternative Building Center, Eureka, CA
- Healthy Homes Products and Services Inc., Fair Oaks, CA
What's your carbon footprint? Take a minute to find out by visiting The Nature Conservancy, a helpful web site from our hometown neighbors at Mercy Corps and The Climate Trust.
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