Offsetting our Carbon Footprint

Kate D rides her bike to work in Bend, Oregon

In 2008, a group of American Licorice employees met to discuss ideas on how to conduct business in a more sustainable way.  One idea was to offer employees an incentive to find alternative methods of transportation to work such as carpooling, biking, walking, or taking public transportation.   The Bend office created an incentive program and began partnering with Bend’s Commute Options organization to support alternative commuting in the community.  We helped our employees get involved by suggesting carpooling groups and providing public transportation information.  Commute Options also supports our efforts in Bend by promoting alternative commuting in their annual Commute Options week.  We rolled out the program to our plants, in Union City, California, and La Porte, Indiana, in 2009.  In 2010, we saved over 184,000 miles of single driver commuting, the equivalent (based on carbon emissions) of taking 15 cars off the road.

As well as reducing emissions and congestion through our commuting incentive program, American Licorice began supporting alternative energy through the Blue Sky program in Bend, at the suggestion of Amy D., a green enthusiast.  Through the support of energy in this program, American Licorice prevents the release of about 271,000 pounds of carbon or the equivalent of taking another 27 cars off the road!