Everybody has to be green these days, including the worst polluter of the Everglades, Big Sugar.
When, a few years ago, the Fanjul sugar interests began to market a brand of their sugar as "environmentally friendly" you could be forgiven for grabbing the barf bag. Sugar's phosphorous pollution of the Everglades is an expanding disaster, wrapping up the entire chain of government agencies, wetlands, and environmental groups in the nastiest form of greenwashing. It couldn't get nastier, could it?
Well...
Recently, Florida Crystals proclaimed that it had been deemed "carbon neutral" according to the same accreditation institute called CarbonFund.org that makes you feel better about polluting ways. You can read for yourself, the entire spin, below.
What you will read, in part, is this:
The Carbonfree(R) product certification entails four main steps:
-- Determine the product's carbon footprint through a life cycle assessment (LCA)
-- Displace the product's footprint through greenhouse gas reduction
-- Certify and register the product as Carbonfree(R)
-- Conduct annual review and recertification
Now, the life cycle assessment-- inquiring minds want to know of the Fanjul's claim-- does that include all the energy costs of running the South Florida water management system in order to drive water both into and from sugar fields?
Does it include the life cycle costs of operating all the pumps and machinery and drills required by Big Sugar's forcing of Everglades restoration into ASR (aquifer storage and recovery wells) from here to Kingdom Come?
There is no correct assessment of sugar's carbon footprint without incorporating those costs.
I'm sure that the Fanjul family interests and its spin-masters like Joanna Wragg, of Wragg and Casas, or Seth Gordon will have answers for our blog. I'm also sure that if these costs aren't included in the carbon footprint assessment by "Europe's premier carbon management consultants, Edinburg Center for Carbon Management", an explanation will be forthcoming.
Because we all want to be environmentally conscious, don't we?
Florida Crystals Corporation and Carbonfund.org Announce First and Only Carbonfree(R) Organic and Natural Sugars
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. and SILVER SPRING, Md., March 25 /PRNewswire/ --
Florida Crystals Corporation and Carbonfund.org today announce the launch
of Florida Crystals(R) Carbonfree(R) Organic and Natural sugars, offering
premium sweeteners to environmentally-conscious consumers who care about
sustainability and eco-friendly practices.
Florida Crystals(R) Carbonfree(R) Organic and Natural sugar products
are the first American sugar products certified Carbonfree(R) by
Carbonfund.org.
The certification was earned after a rigorous life cycle assessment
(LCA) performed by Europe's premier carbon management consultants, Edinburg
Center for Carbon Management. They determined each product's complete
carbon footprint by assessing the primary inputs of planting and growing
the sugar cane, through the harvesting, milling and packaging processes, to
the product's final delivery to store shelves. The Carbonfree(R) label
indicates each product's carbon footprint was rendered neutral through
greenhouse gas cutting measures, specifically, through Florida Crystals'
production of renewable energy.
"Florida Crystals(R) certification is unique," said Luis Fernandez,
Florida Crystals' Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
"Unlike other manufacturers who rely on the purchase of carbon credits from
third parties, we are able to provide our products' carbon neutrality
through our own production of renewable electricity. We have a strong
commitment to the environment and continue to invest in the expansion of
our renewable energy program. We are proud to receive the Carbonfree(R)
certification."
The Carbonfree(R) product certification entails four main steps:
-- Determine the product's carbon footprint through a life cycle
assessment (LCA)
-- Displace the product's footprint through greenhouse gas reduction
-- Certify and register the product as Carbonfree(R)
-- Conduct annual review and recertification
Florida Crystals has been operating its renewable energy facility for a
decade. It is the largest of its kind in North America and produces clean
energy that powers its sugar operations and tens of thousands of homes. By
generating renewable energy using sugar cane and wood waste instead of
fossil fuels, Florida Crystals prevents hundreds of thousands of tons of
CO2 from entering the atmosphere each year. Florida Crystals also reduces
foreign oil dependence by one million barrels per year.
"Carbonfree(R) certification and labeling is the next big trend in
environmentally responsible living," Carbonfund.org Executive Director Eric
Carlson said. "Florida Crystals is reducing greenhouse gas emissions and
increasing awareness among consumers of the impact their buying decisions
have on the planet. We're very proud to work with Florida Crystals for a
better environment."
A new study by Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) shows roughly half of
all consumers now consider questions of sustainability in their purchasing
decisions, with particular focus on the food and beverage industry.
Florida Crystals(R) Carbonfree(R) Organic and Natural sugar products
are marketed by Domino Foods, Inc.
About Carbonfund.org
Carbonfund.org is the country's leading carbon reduction and offset
organization, making it easy and affordable for individuals, businesses and
organizations to reduce their climate impact. Carbon offsets enable
individuals and businesses to reduce carbon dioxide emissions they are
responsible for in their everyday lives by supporting high-quality verified
renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects.
Carbonfund.org works with over 600 corporate and non-profit partners
including Discovery, Allstate, Volkswagen, Dell, Orbitz, Environmental
Defense, and Lancome.
About Florida Crystals
Florida Crystals is a leading domestic sugar producer and North
America's first fully integrated cane sugar company guiding its sugar from
the field to the table with Florida Crystals(R) natural and organic brands.
Florida Crystals(R) is made from pure sun-sweetened sugar cane but it's
"less refined" than traditional sugar, so it delivers a flavor that's
unique and absolutely delicious. To learn more about our Carbonfree(R)
certification and our earth- friendly practices, visit us at
http://www.floridacrystals.com.
Contacts:
Gary Black, Florida Crystals/Domino Foods, Inc.
614-741-4488
Gaston Cantens, Florida Crystals Corporation
561-248-1953
Russell Simon, Carbonfund.org
240-334-3681
SOURCE Florida Crystals Corporation
1 comment:
I have seen this greenwashing they are trying to sell to under cut the small percentage of real true enviro, organic and FAIR TRADE SUGAR. Only sugar regulated by Transfair USA is really both organic and make with processes that respect worker right because Transfair is the only official Fair Trade regulator in the USA.
Since such a small percentage of sugar is allowed to be imported into the USA at all I really try to buy up what I can or even when I travel to Canada import it myself. First of all sugar should be grown where it is best suited despite the small transportation costs, Second that is usually a place close to the USA that is in need of access to agr. markets to sell its products to us (for conservatives this is how free trade is suspose to work), Third, sugar as it is produced in the USA is a protection racket that we all have to end up footing the bill for both with price supports and to drain what should be a swamp anyways.
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