Simple steps for businesses to celebrate Earth Day all year
Endangered Species Chocolate’s Earth Day motto is “Celebrate it one day a year. Take care of it 365.” Just in time for Earth Day on April 22, 2007, ESC has taken one more step toward honoring the planet. ChocolateBar.com, web site of the number one selling brand of chocolate in the natural category, has been moved to an environmentally friendly web host.
Choosing green service providers, like AISO.net, is one way for businesses to help save the environment through reducing pollution and conserving natural resources. Other efforts that Endangered Species Chocolate has made toward being green include:
- Employees participate in an internal recycling program.
- Products are packaged in recycled and recyclable materials.
- Production facility and administrative offices are LEED registered.
- All top executives drive hybrid vehicles.
- All cacao is naturally shade grown.
- Organic and all-natural cacao farming practices are gentle on the earth.
- 10% of net profits are donated to help conservation efforts for species, habitat and humanity.
AISO is a 100% solar-powered web services provider in California. The environmentally friendly data center is made from steel, minimal wood, insulation with recycled content, and a soon-to-be installed green roof consisting of three to four inches of dirt and drought resistant plants (which will reduce heating and cooling by more than 50%). Back-up generators run on clean-burning propane gas and the cooling system uses water, which reduces electricity use. Right down to the use of recycled paper product and earth-friendly cleaners, AISO is another great example of a green company.
Endangered Species Chocolate challenges other organizations to take some simple steps toward protecting the environment this Earth Day and all year. Other tips for greening the office are:
- Turn down the thermostat – two degrees conserves 6% of heating-related carbon emission.
- Change the light bulbs to compact fluorescents – they last ten times longer and prevent a substantial amount of greenhouse-gas pollution.
- Shut down computers that aren’t used for extended periods of time – contrary to popular belief, turning a computer off and on won’t wear it down.
- Don’t use screen savers – they require more energy. Allow a computer to “go to sleep” without a screen saver.
- Recycle old electronics rather than throwing them away.
- Decorate with toxin-absorbing plants like peace lilies, philodendron, pothos - plants are beneficial for removing toxins produced from electronics, paint, and carpet glue.
- Give clients and employees earth-friendly gifts, such as fair trade items and charitable gifts (Heifer International).
About Endangered Species Chocolate
Indianapolis-based Endangered Species Chocolate is fully committed to providing premium, all-natural ethically traded, naturally shade-grown, and kosher products, as well as products that are certified vegan and organic. To honor its core value – Reverence for Life – ESC confirms that all beans used in its products are purchased from small, family-owned properties where the income benefits the community. The company also donates 10-percent of net profits to help support species, habitat and humanity. The number one best selling brand of natural and organic chocolate in the natural food category, ESC offers more than 30 products.
For more information, please visit www.chocolatebar.com. |