In addition to our own green initiatives and a desire to give back to the community, La Grande Dame has partnered with Renewable Choice Energy, a leading provider of renewable energy and carbon offsets, to offer an easy way to recognize and reduce the impact of shipping orders, called Round Up.
This program allows customers the opportunity to offset a portion of the emissions that result from shipping their order. Shipping products across the country contributes to harmful carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution. La Grande Dame has chosen to help reduce its carbon emissions associated with customers’ orders and to do this, we provide our eco-minded clients with the option to participate in the Round Up program.
How the Round Up Program Works
- At checkout, a client is given the option to Round Up their total purchase to the nearest dollar.
- The extra money collected is put towards purchasing carbon offsets.
- The goal of this program is to educate our customers on CO2 emissions and to provide a way to reduce them; it’s a way for customers to get involved in environmental stewardship.
- La Grande Dame will report on the amount of carbon offsets that are purchased and their environmental impact on a quarterly basis.
By participating in the program, customers help reduce the environmental impact of their shipment and support a carbon reduction project in the U.S. This is an easy way to help make the world a cleaner place.
Our Environmental Goals
- Education, by letting our customers know how easy it is to make a difference, like with the Round Up program, we are helping move green initiatives forward.
- being part of the solution by cutting down our impact where ever possible and by helping our consumers to do the same
Carbon Offsets: By purchasing carbon offsets on behalf of their customers, La Grande Dame is:
- Reducing carbon emissions in the air
- Promoting cleaner air
- Fighting global climate change
- Increasing the demand for carbon mitigation projects in the U.S.
- Promoting the development of carbon offsetting technologies
- Taking responsibility for its environmental impact
Eco-shipping Tips:
- Use ground shipment whenever possible. Shipping by air creates a larger environmental impact, emitting 20 times more CO2 than by ground and 50 times more than rail. (Source: greenbiz.com)
- Order everything at once. This creates fewer shipments and thus reduces harmful carbon dioxide pollution.
Q&A
What is a carbon offset?
Carbon offsets allow consumers to reduce the environmental impact of their lifestyles beyond what they are able to conserve. By purchasing carbon offsets in the form of verified emission reductions (VERs) equal to the estimated impact of ones driving or flying, an individual can reduce their impact and do their part to fight climate change.
How much CO2 does the average online purchase shipment emit?
Approximately 1 lb of carbon dioxide is emitted for a package weighing 4 lbs traveling from California to Florida. Now, imagine hundreds of thousands of packages being shipped across the country on a monthly basis. Estimating 100,000 packages each month, 1,200,000 a year, that’s 1,200,000 lbs of CO2. That’s the equivalent of planting 4,935 trees or not driving 1,223,789 miles in a passenger car!
Why should I offset the carbon emissions associated with my shipment?
Carbon dioxide pollution is the leading cause of climate change. Offsetting the carbon emissions associated with your shipment allows you to take responsibility for your impact while supporting clean technology solutions. It is important for everyone to do their part to fight climate change.
How do carbon offsets help fight climate change?
Carbon offsets allow consumers to reduce the environmental impact of transportation. Carbon reduction projects sell carbon offsets to fund their projects. Proceeds from carbon offsets are an important revenue stream for projects that prevent or destroy greenhouse gases (GHGs) that contribute to climate change.
Glossary of Terms
Carbon Offsets
Carbon offsets are designed to balance out carbon dioxide emissions that are produced by businesses and individuals. Carbon offsets are investments in projects that reduce or prevent a measured amount of emissions from entering the atmosphere
Carbon offsets are purchased by individuals, businesses and governments to take responsibility for carbon emissions produced by electricity consumption, air travel, driving and other carbon-rich activities. Projects that can offset emissions include reforestation and conservation, methane capture and renewable energy.
Carbon reduction projects
A carbon reduction project is a business initiative that receives funding because of the reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) that will result from the projects’ efforts.
The Round Up program is through Boulder, Colo.-based Renewable Choice Energy (RCE). RCE is a national provider of renewable energy credits (RECs) and verified emissions reductions (VERs). Renewable choice has helped hundreds of companies across the country reduce their environmental footprints and support clean energy development. Its goal is to provide opportunities to help move our society towards a more sustainable future.
