GENERAL FAQs
We are an environmental technology company serving brands wanting to make an impact by reducing the negative effects of their environmental footprint. We help clients measure, report and neutralize clients’ greenhouse gas emissions through proportionate investments in carbon offset projects certified by leading international standards and EY (Ernst & Young). We go a step further by supporting local green-scape projects in communities through relationships with over 2,000 local non-profits across the world. We also have initiatives to reclaim fresh drinking water, invest in renewable energy, and to help address the global ocean plastics problem.
We help address global emissions from retail fuel, corporate and municipal fleets, airlines, retailers, manufacturers, and consumer packaged goods companies.
A carbon offset represents a scientifically quantified and certified avoidance, reduction, destruction, or capture of one metric ton of carbon dioxide or an equivalent greenhouse gas emission. A carbon offset can be purchased by an individual or an organization to negate a carbon dioxide equivalent emission made elsewhere. Carbon offsets are measured in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). Click Here to learn more.
There are many different types of carbon offset projects that avoid, reduce, destroy, or capture the emission of greenhouse gases in the short or long-term. A common project type is renewable energy, such as wind farms, biomass energy, or hydroelectric dams. Others include energy efficiency projects, the destruction of industrial pollutants or agricultural byproducts, nitrous oxide abatement from nitric acid production, zero till cropping, destruction of landfill methane, and forestry projects. Some of the most popular carbon offset projects from a corporate perspective are energy efficiency and alternative energy wind turbine projects. The project specific third-party carbon offset standards dictate the methodology, audit, and processes involved in each type of project. Click Here to see more on carbon offset projects.
Today, many people and corporations use “carbon offset” and “carbon credit” interchangeably though they are slightly different. A carbon credit is a term used for a certificate or permit that represents the legal right to emit one metric ton of carbon dioxide or equivalent greenhouse gas. Many people know of carbon credits from regulatory mechanisms that cap emissions to allow for trading of “carbon credits”. Typically, though not exclusively, carbon credits are traded and purchased in a regulated market within a country or group of countries.
Carbon neutral means contributing a net zero addition of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (or CO2e) into the atmosphere. To claim carbon neutrality, it doesn’t mean producing no emissions, rather, the net addition of emissions into the atmosphere is zero. This is primarily achieved through the purchase and retirement of carbon offsets which capture, reduce, or destroy CO2e emissions across the world.
We do both. Some of our clients offset less than 100% of their carbon dioxide equivalent emissions as they develop and implement global solutions for emission reductions. Other clients choose to be 100% carbon neutral today. Both strategies and products are certified, attested to, and make the world a cleaner place.
We serve clients in 14 countries and growing.
Here are some common offerings which leading companies or governments have in the market today:
- They plant a tree per unit, transaction, or card – with no certified carbon calculation
- They offset some percentage (e.g. 1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 50%, 100%) of their carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
- They develop long-term, comprehensive, and global strategies and typically pledge to start tracking and reporting their carbon emissions while targeting a reduction typically 5-30 years in the future as solutions are implemented.
- They calculate their total carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from a previous year (i.e. 20XX) and pledge to reduce those emissions moving forward.
There are two markets, one is regulated and one is voluntary. The regulated market is typically related to cap-and-trade mechanisms that reduce carbon dioxide equivalent emissions through the “capping” of emissions and “trading” of allowances and/or carbon credits. The second market is voluntary and is governed by third-party standards and registries so companies can reduce, destroy, or capture carbon dioxide equivalent emissions at-will.
We meet 100% of our carbon offset commitments through investments in certified carbon offset projects. In addition to the certified carbon offset projects, we work with large global organizations, such as The Arbor Day Foundation, and thousands of local non-profit organizations to conduct tree-planting, neighborhood cleanups, and other local community projects to support our programs at the local community level. These local initiatives and projects are never part of our carbon offsetting.
In short, the price is for carbon offsets vary based on traditional market factors. Prices vary drastically and can be influenced by many variables such as project type, project location, the volume of project, vintage, and the protocol for which the project is developed, branding, bulk wholesale versus retail, and general supply and demand for the project. Readily available retail prices available online range from $15 per metric ton (carbon offset) from The Nature Conservancy to almost $10 per metric ton ($4.99 per 1,000 pounds) on TerraPass. There are also compliance markets which have stricter requirements that increase the price of carbon offsets that qualify.
Using fuel volume data from clients, we calculate the carbon emissions emitted using factors (i.e. pounds of CO2 per gallon of petroleum burned) from the EIA, EPA, and other reputable sources. As part of our annual attestation process with EY, they confirm our data sources and calculations are accurate.
We provide our clients with ongoing reporting related to carbon offsets and other environmental investments and purchases. Annually, we have EY provide an attestation for our clients related to our calculations, purchases, and investments. Finally, we utilize the following publicly available third-party carbon offset registries for all purchases and retirements of carbon offsets:
Retail Fuel
The simple answer is no. We have created a program and product that is bundled with the fuel you currently sell. No new pumps, hardware, or additives!
No. Our program is turnkey and is as simple as installing new collateral.
No. Our program is turnkey and is as simple as installing new collateral.
We are the sustainability partner behind reduced emissions programs for brands that include 7-Eleven, Marathon, Twice Daily, Giant Martins, and many others.
Our customers report increases in in-store traffic and purchases, in addition to increases in net promoter score, consumer loyalty, and customer and employee engagement. Ask about our case studies. Click Here to contact us.
Fleet
The simple answer is no. We have created a program and product that easily works with the trucks you currently use.
Yes! We are happy to provide you with a full spectrum of marketing and advertising materials – collateral for your vehicles, office, fuel cards, and more!
We manage the Clean Advantage for FLEETCOR. FLEETCOR is a specialized payment solutions business supporting clients with large auto fleets and has been a client since 2015.
The Clean Advantage Program enables FLEETCOR customers to reduce their carbon dioxide tailpipe emissions. From a high level, we receive fuel purchase data from FLEETCOR, we calculate the corresponding carbon dioxide emissions for each gallon by type of fuel purchased using industry standard carbon dioxide and equivalent coefficients from entities like the EPA. We then invest proportionally in certified carbon offset projects to avoid, destroy, capture, or reduce carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. All carbon offsets are retired on publicly available carbon offset registries such as:
- Climate Action Reserve
- The Gold Standard Registry
- APX Registry
- American Carbon Registry
- IHS Markit Registry
- CSA Group Registries
We also work with EY (Ernst Young) to validate and attest to the whole process and calculations, from carbon dioxide equivalent calculation to carbon offset purchase and retirement.
In addition to offsetting the carbon dioxide which we are obligated to offset as described above, for example 100% of a fleets carbon dioxide tailpipe emissions, through the purchase and retirement of carbon offsets on third-party and publicly available registries, GreenPrint has voluntarily gone above and beyond and in 2018 planted 10,000 trees on behalf of Clean Advantage customers and FLEETCOR through the Arbor Day Foundation.
