By Dan Bolton
Bigelow Tea is 100% powered by renewable electrical sources, earning national recognition as a Green-e Energy clean energy certified company by the Center for Resource Solutions in San Francisco.
Bigelow Tea facilities in Boise, Ida., Louisville, Ky., as well as the headquarters in Fairfield, Conn., run on Green-e Certified renewable, carbon-free sources. The company, which produces 2 billion tea bags annually, has reduced its carbon footprint by 12 million pounds using a combination of 90% wind power and 10% solar generation. Compliance includes the purchase of RECs (renewable energy certificates).
“Achieving this certification for using 100% renewable energy is just part of our continuing journey to be a good corporate citizen,” said Bigelow Tea c.e.o. Cindi Bigelow. “These are things that we do simply because it is the right thing to do. All of us need to explore where we can make a difference and, if possible, we need to try and focus on making those changes. So we are very proud of this most recent accomplishment and we hope other companies will consider looking into how they can also achieve the same goal.”
Green-e Certification requires at least half of energy use from renewables. Qualifying began with investments in energy-saving equipment, LED lighting, the installation of motion detectors and conservation. Improvements included modernization of the 1983 Benjamin Lane Boise facility, which produces 600 million tea bags. The Green-e Energy Code of Conduct states half of the company’s total energy must be from renewable sources such as geothermal, hydro, solar and wind. Bigelow said the company, which sells 150 kinds of tea, far exceeded minimum.
“Sustainability has always been a core business value of the company and this is an important step in advancing the company’s mission,” said Bigelow, noting that the 75-year-old, family-owned firm is registered as a Certified Benefit “B” Corp. in 2019. “We are very proud to be operating with 100% renewable energy because this is a goal that complies with our mission statement, written more than 30 years ago,” Bigelow said.
Bigelow was designated as a “Zero Waste to Landfill” company in 2012. To qualify, a company must divert 90% of its waste from the landfill. Bigelow Tea exceeded that minimum requirement at its three facilities by composting, recycling, and relying on trash-to-energy plants.
Green-e is the leading independent consumer protection program for the sale of renewable energy and greenhouse gas reductions in the US retail market.