Any of you who know me, know that I am all about recycling and being as ECO friendly as possible. So when I came across this fellow demonstrators article, I knew I had to share it with you. Here's what she had to say;
A look into Stampin' Up!'s Eco-Friendly Practices
A few
months ago, I read a great article about how 'green' Stampin' Up! is,
and it really stuck with me so I wanted to share. Without a lot of hype
they have been doing good behind the scenes for years. So many
companies could learn a lesson or two about how being green can
sometimes be profitable not only for our children and grandchildren, but
even to the company bottom line.
Here are just a few highlights:
- Rubber
- Rather than dump excess rubber from stamps into a landfill,
Stampin' Up! donates it local parks in Kanab to use in playgrounds.
They also donate it to Courage Reins,
a nonprofit organization that provides horseback riding therapy for
physically or mentally challenged children. The organization sells the
ground rubber for use in playgrounds and horse stables and uses the
money to fund their programs.
- Card Stock & Paper
- Not only is our packing material 100% recycled material, but our
card stock also includes recycled paper that's left over from other
paper runs which would otherwise end up in landfills. The darker the
card stock color, the more recycled material it contains...so
technically, Basic Black is the new "Green!" Additionally,
Stampin' Up! works with a paper broker who ensures that the mills used
for our Designer Series Paper and card stock engage in environmentally
friendly practices. The broker is certified through the Sustainable
Forestry Initiative (SFI), the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and the
Program for the Endorsement of Forestry Certification (PEFC) and
ensures that our paper comes from sustainably managed forests and that
our mills are taking steps to lessen their carbon footprints. One mill
even generates its own power!
- Carbon Footprint
- Stampin' Up! strives to reduce their carbon footprint as much as
possible. They engage in shipping practices that will require fewer
greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, to be released into the
atmosphere. First, shipments are picked up from the Distribution Center
during non-peak traffic hours, requiring less gas to use to get our
orders out. (More info about UPS policies at http://sustainability.ups.com.)
For stamp shipments from Kanab to Riverton, we "carpool" with
companies who are sending shipments from Salt Lake City area to Kanab.
For example: Sysco delivers food to Kanab and surrounding towns and
normally their trucks would return empty. Instead of driving back
without cargo, Sysco trucks bring stamps from Kanab to Riverton! Smart
for the budget and the environment!
- Wood Blocks
- The wood blocks for our stamps are created from renewable resources,
using sustainable practices to get them. They work with a tree farm
that grows maple trees specifically for harvesting wood. Now with clear stamps as an option, even fewer trees are being used!
- Stampin' Up! Buildings -
Systems in both the Riverton and Kanab building filter any pollutants
that may result from stamp production. What's more, the buildings were
designed with energy conservation in mind. Both buildings have
geothermal wells, which help maintain building temperatures, decreasing
the use of heating oil or natural gas. All lights are on sensors and
timers, so electricity isn't wasted when employees are away from the
office. In the Utah desert climate, water is an important concern.
Native, water-wise plants are used in landscaping, including
wildflowers growing in front of the Riverton office instead of grass.
Sprinklers are timed to minimize evaporation, reducing the amount of
water used. Indoors, artificial plants are mixed it with live plants in
the beautiful atrium water feature. This creates a lush garden while
minimizing the amount of water used.
How
cool is that?!!! I love working with a company that cares...about it's
people, about it's customers, and about our environment!
