Can You Shop Carbon Negative? YES, YOU CAN!
Stephen EastmondOne of the big worries about the world today is climate change. While there is political back and forth about the causes, responsibility, and necessary responses, everyday individuals generally recognize that the environment is not as good as it used to be, and that we need to do something about making it better for ourselves and our children. Without getting into political debates, Emu Therapy wants to play its part in helping to leave the Earth better than we found it because we believe in the magic of nature, and that means taking steps to reduce impacts that damage the environment.
The Carbon Equation
Carbon dioxide is a gas that we all emit every day as we live and breathe - literally. Certain other activities create more carbon dioxide, like burning wood, coal, or petroleum fuels. Scientists have known for a long time that carbon dioxide traps heat in the Earth's atmosphere, which impacts the overall climate of the planet. In recent years, people and industries have adopted terminology around carbon dioxide as an equation - are you adding to the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, keeping it even, or reducing it? For many, carbon neutral is a reasonable goal, indicating that someone is keeping the carbon dioxide level even rather than adding to it. If the carbon dioxide level is a problem, then at least we're not making it worse. To reduce the overall carbon dioxide level would be considered carbon negative, and is what some see as necessary to really make a difference in how our world will look for generations to come.
Efforts We're Making
Emu Therapy currently works with a company called EcoCart to offer our customers the option to contribute toward projects that actively reduce the carbon dioxide output into the atmosphere. Some of these projects are about reducing carbon-emitting activities where possible, and others are about removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, such as by planting trees that pull this gas from the air and replace it with oxygen through their natural processes. EcoCart has made calculations to offset the carbon footprint of each product, so that a pre-determined dollar value added to an order will fund carbon dioxide impact projects to reduce carbon output by as much as the product's manufacture and transportation added, leaving the equation balanced. For those customers who are concerned about their carbon dioxide impact, this gives them the ability to shop without worry of what their purchase means for the environment.
Adding to the Effort Reduces the Output
During the 2022 holiday shopping season, Emu Therapy's shipping partner, a company called ShippingEasy, stepped up to make a difference in the carbon dioxide situation, as well. ShippingEasy paid for all shipments processed through their platform between November 10, 2022 and January 12, 2023 to be carbon neutral. This did not impact the cost of shipping for Emu Therapy or our customers, so we were happy to announce the effort and to be working with such a great partner! Knowing that we already offered carbon neutral shopping through EcoCart, ShippingEasy's holiday effort meant that Emu Therapy customers who chose to contribute to the EcoCart project we support would actually be carbon negative! What a gift to the world we live in during this season of giving to one another!
Since then, EcoCart has rolled out another feature, allowing customers to select whether they want to offset 100% or even more of the carbon impact of your order. So now you can shop carbon negative any day of the year!