Native Eyewear: partnership with Renewable Choice Energy
Native Eyewear announced that it has teamed with Renewable Choice Energy to reduce its environmental footprint and support clean energy development. Through its relationship with Renewable Choice, Native is able to offset 100 percent of the electricity used at its Denver headquarters with the purchase of 39,600 kilowatt hours (kWh) of renewable energy credits (RECs) from U.S. wind farms. Native will also offset 66 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions generated from business travel by purchasing verified emission reductions (VERs), also known as carbon offsets.
In addition to offsetting its own environmental impact, Native has purchased 100 Green Your Phone cell phone offsets from Renewable Choice to share with partners and vendors. These Green Your Phone offset products come in the form of a small card and sticker, and each includes 250 kWh of renewable energy credits to offset the manufacturing and use of a cell phone for two years. Native hopes that by giving Green Your Phone, they’ll help educate others on our growing need for cleaner energy. While mobile phones use relatively little electricity, most Americans have them and they are a great place to start making a difference.
Combined, Native anticipates that its efforts will help to prevent 198,459 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from being emitted into the atmosphere.
“Native provides products for outdoor enthusiasts who rely on this great earth of ours each and every day,” said Chas MacDonald, president of Native Eyewear. “In an era of concerns about climate change, we thought it imperative for Native to take responsibility for our environmental impact and convey the message to our customers and partners that we believe strongly in investing in a more sustainable future and we are willing to take the steps necessary to offset our own impact.”
"Native’s commitment to balancing its emissions from both electricity and business travel demonstrates its environmentally responsible approach to business,” said Quayle Hodek, CEO of Renewable Choice Energy. “This organization is helping to build demand for renewable energy and evolve our infrastructure for generating electricity.”
Native’s commitment to support renewable energy development and reduce carbon emissions has a positive environmental impact that is similar to planting 917 mature trees, keeping 19 passenger cars off the road for one year or not driving more than 227,434 miles in an average passenger car. In addition to Renewable Choice, Native Eyewear has also pulled in local partners like EcoGreenOffice to purchase green office supplies to ensure that its environmental impact extends into everyday office practices. Additionally, Native has made a commitment to become a zero waste workplace by 2012 and will continue to work in tandem with Renewable Choice to identify new clean technology solutions that further reduce its environmental impact.
