Stonyfield Farm Environmental Cookbook

In 1996, yogurt maker Stonyfield Farm committed itself to offset 100% of the carbon dioxide emissions from its production facility’s energy use by the year 2002. In 1997, five years ahead of schedule, it achieved this goal by investing in a reforestation project in Oregon. Determining how to counteract its global-warming emissions meant calculating Stonyfield’s carbon “footprint” — a measurement of the CO2 emissions for which it was responsible. The company created a “CO2 Neutrality Portfolio,” a carbon “fund” to enable companies to invest in offset projects. The portfolio offers a range of projects from which to choose, including national and international projects in reforestation, renewables, and fuel switching (from carbon-laden wood and coal, for example, to natural gas or renewable energy). The company published this “Environmental Cookbook,” describing the project.