EP23: How a camping stove inspired the climate equivalent to "certified organic" - Climate Neutral

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FUN FACT

Over 200 companies have committed to the Climate Neutral certification, including Allbirds, Reformation, and Kickstarter.

Flagship Product

Climate Neutral Certification

FOUNDERS

Peter Dering and Jonathan Cedar

LAUNCHED

2018

Funding

Over $160,000 from Kickstarter!

Climate Neutral on In Good Hands

Problem

It's easy to see if products are organic, Fair Trade certified, or made in the USA-- they often have a logo or stamp to prove it. Why isn't there an equivalent for companies to disclose their impact on climate?

Solution

That was the thinking that prompted the creation of Climate Neutral, a nonprofit that certifies companies with a net zero carbon footprint. To earn the Climate Neutral certification, companies have to do three things:

  1. Calculate the amount of carbon or other greenhouse gasses with similar effects released through their entire supply and distribution chains;

  2. Show proof that they’re making efforts to reduce that number; and

  3. Bring the balance to zero by purchasing carbon offsets—paying third-party organizations to help mitigate the company’s emissions by doing things like planting trees or investing in wind farms.

This process will be repeated annually, and all the numbers will be published online for consumers to see (current brands: https://www.climateneutral.org/certified-brands).

Episode Brief

Jonathan Cedar, Climate Neutral’s Co-Founder, joins Peter on this week’s episode to discuss:

  • Starting BioLite and powering 100k homes across Africa

  • Providing solar energy to 1.5B people who live off-grid

  • The Climate Neutral eureka moment

  • Calculating a company’s carbon footprint

  • Working with 100s of organizations, like Allbirds and Kickstarter

Credits

HOST

Peter Levin

PRODUCTION

Dan Mahoney

MUSIC

Eddie Knuckles

Peter Levin