2015 Sustainability Report

Transcription

1 2015 Sustainability Report A

2 About Emerald Brand Established in 1997, Emerald produces everyday disposable products from sustainable, alternative materials at affordable prices. Emerald is committed to bringing innovative solutions to businesses and consumers across the globe. With a robust product line ranging from Tree-Free and petroleum-free tissue and food service products to Earth-friendly cleaning solutions, Emerald has made it easy to green homes and businesses. Our mission is to streamline sustainable choices to every consumer and business across the globe. Letter from Managing Director, Ralph Bianculli Jr. This past year was exceptional for Emerald Brand. In addition to accomplishing our 2015 environmental goals, we also saw double-digit growth for the third consecutive year. We spent many hours educating our youth and our communities, and participated in a host of charitable events. Our company s mission is to bring affordable, sustainable disposable solutions to businesses and consumers across the globe. This mission involves educating consumers and businesses about their sustainable options in order to help them make better choices for the planet and for their overall health. We are proud to release our 2015 Corporate Social Responsibility Report that outlines our biggest successes in environmental, educational, and social responsibility efforts throughout the year. Best regards, Ralph Bianculli Jr. Ai

3 Education Social Intent Environmental Milestones Partnerships 9 Our Office Goals 13 ii

4 Education

5 2015 Emerald Sustainability Report Education Emerald Brand educates its employees, consumers, communities and the general public on sustainable practices and the effects of climate change. Education is a key way to move sustainable practices and development forward in order to have a positive impact on climate change. Al Gore s Climate Reality Presentation The Climate Reality Project Representatives teamed up with Emerald employees to host an educational seminar about climate change and its effects on the environment. The Climate Reality Project s mission is to catalyze a global solution to the climate crisis by making urgent action a necessity across every level of society. Local Education Emerald Brand s Managing Directors Ralph Bianculli Jr. and Jaclyn McDuffey spent the year speaking at local schools to help educate youth about sustainability and the importance of saving the world s resources. Your Choices Matter event at Columbia University In partnership with Columbia and the Student Association, Emerald hosted Your Choices Matter to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable development and to educate students about sustainable choices International Conference on Sustainable Development Emerald Brand s Director of Sustainability Marketing and Communications, Gabrielle Lindau, was a panelist at the ICSD 2015 Conference discussing Careers in Sustainable Development. Sustainability World Tour 2015 Emerald Brand was featured on the Sustainability World Tour in The tour is a first-of-its-kind public awareness campaign to optimize marketplace engagement and promote bio-based alternatives. Tree Free Paper Products Soil is ready for farming. Sugar cane begins to sprout. 2

6 Social Intent

7 2015 Emerald Sustainability Report Social Intent Emerald Brand recognizes the importance of all humanity and strives to help the world in as many ways as possible. Emerald s social goals help raise awareness surrounding issues affecting communities both locally and globally. Through its efforts, Emerald proudly gives back to communities and charities and is committed to participating in community service efforts. Pediatric Awareness Walk Winthrop Children s Hospital Emerald participated in the Pediatric Awareness Walk to benefit the Cancer Center for Kids at Winthrop-University Hospital. Goodwill Clothing Drive Emerald hosted its first annual Goodwill of New York and New Jersey Clothing Drive and successfully diverted 250 pounds of landfill waste while contributing to the community. Donations This year, Emerald focused its donations on causes that directly impacted its employees. Our 2015 donation recipients included the Cancer Center for Kids at Winthrop-University Hospital, Bella the Brave s Cancer Fight Fund, and in partnership with Corporate Coffee, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Walk. Sugar cane is fully grown after 9 months and harvested. The sugar cane is brought to the sugar mill. 4

8 Environmental Milestones

9 2015 Emerald Sustainability Report Environmental Milestones Emerald Brand s mission is focused around the preservation of the natural environment that will sustain life on the planet for future generations. The long-term success of the planet depends on resources conservation. Emerald is dedicated to saving the earth s natural resources for human life and wildlife. We are thrilled about the positive environmental impact our products have made this past year. The sufar cane stalks are then processed. The sufar cane stalks are placed into the extractor. 6

10 2015 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT SAVINGS Throughout 2015, Emerald products saved 11,990 3,175, ,934 trees gallons of water pounds of plastic 1,362,079 pounds of landfill waste *Landfill waste estimates of products containing recycled content account for materials removed from the waste stream before production. Landfill waste diverted at the end user level is based on proper disposal of recyclable, compostable, and biodegradable products. All environmental savings estimates are based on conversion from products of the same weight made entirely of virgin wood fiber and/or petroleum-based plastic resin. We are continuously researching new methods for updating our Environmental Impact Calculator. Any discrepancies between this analysis and past or future analyses can be attributed to our use of the most recent data available to us at the time. 7

11 2015 Emerald Sustainability Report Environmental Milestones 38,064,060 plastic bags 8,820 hrs of lawn watering That is equivalent to 280,573 reams of copy paper 341 dumpsters 8

12 Partnerships

13 2015 Emerald Sustainability Report Environmental Milestones Emerald Brand is proud to partner with innovative companies who are dedicated to sustainability and environmental protection. Through various partnerships, Emerald can bring more sustainable daily routines to businesses, offices and consumers. ORCA Emerald Brand entered a partnership with ORCA, a company that develops, manufactures and markets the ORCA, a machine that sustainably processes food waste. The machine creates meaningful cost savings for customers while diverting food waste disposal from landfills and reducing methane gas production. This partnership helps bring our clients the complete, full-cycle solution to sustainability. EcoStay Emerald Brand s partnership with EcoStay helps this non-profit organization provide hotels with a simple, no-cost, full-service eco-program that earns hoteliers the much needed funding for environmental improvements. It provides hotels with Emerald s cost-neutral, environmentally friendly disposable and cleaning products that help save natural resources. Through the EcoStay program, hotels and their guests support emission-reducing projects across the country, including renewable energy, tree planting and efficiency initiatives. FSC Membership Emerald Brand became a member of the Forest Stewardship Council in As an a FSC member, Emerald will have the opportunity to vote on the policy, standards and governance of FSC while showing its support for the mission and values of the FSC. Sugar is extracted and the fiber left over is bagasse. Wet bagasse is then processed. Bagasse is pressed, disinfected, and dried into paperboard. 10

14 Our Office

15 2015 Emerald Sustainability Report Our Office Emerald Brand believes changing the environment begins at home with your personal choices. Emerald s sustainability efforts begin at home, in its offices. Emerald works hard to improve its environmental impact everyday while providing a positive and fun atmosphere for its employees and office guests. Internal Upgrades Emerald integrated LED lights into its office and warehouse buildings to help conserve energy. LED lights are energy efficient and consume up to 90 percent less power than incandescent lightbulbs. In addition, Emerald business cards are printed on 100 percent recycled paper, while 100 percent recycled copy paper is used for all copying and printing needs. Additionally, Emerald is stocking its pantries with USDA Organic and Rainforest Alliance certified coffee from Reunion Island. While working to update its offices, Emerald continues to help its community by donating its old office furniture. Natural Gas Trucks Emerald Brand successfully converted its fleet to compressed natural gas (CNG) fueled trucks. Compared to traditional diesel, CNG fueled trucks reduce the amount of harmful gas emissions into the atmosphere and utilize a natural gas that burns more efficiently and emits significantly less carbon than the traditional fossil fuels. Paperboard is processed and packed and ready for product production. Completed products are ready for use. 12

16 2016 Goals & Beyond

17 2015 Emerald Sustainability Report 2016 Goals Letter from Managing Director, Jaclyn McDuffey Many exciting things lie ahead for Emerald Brand. As we look toward the future, we see the opportunity to continue making vast environmental impacts through the Emerald product line, educating the world about the importance of sustainability, and impacting communities through expanding social outreach programs. Continuously enhancing our sustainable supply chain practices is a top priority for Emerald in the years ahead. Tightening the radius in which our products and materials are grown, pulped, manufactured and produced will improve our product life cycles and generate even greater environmental benefits. We will continue to internalize sustainable practices in our own domestic operations, with the goal of becoming completely paperless by Finally, we will expand our educational and charitable outreach, and continue to give back to the communities that make it possible for sustainability to advance onward. We are very much looking forward to the years ahead. It is an exciting time for sustainable advancements, and we are honored to be a leader in this ever-evolving sustainable revolution. Best regards, Jaclyn McDuffey Product is composted and biodegradable. Compost is decomposed into nutrient rich soil and the bagasse process begins again. 14

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