Zotos International, Inc. announced today that all of the company’s corporate offices as well as its manufacturing operations are now carbon neutral. Working with Verus Carbon Neutral, Zotos has offset 100 percent of its Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from its manufacturing plant in Geneva, NY as well as its offices in Darien, CT; Arcadia, CA; and Rosemont, IL. With a carbon footprint of 7,430 metric tons, Zotos is one of the first U.S. companies in the beauty industry to completely neutralize their operations.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Scope 1 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are direct, from sources that are owned or controlled by a company, including fossil fuels burned on site and emissions from vehicles. Scope 2 GHG emissions are indirect, resulting from electricity, heat or steam generated off site but purchased by a company.
“Zotos should be held up as a model, not only the beauty industry, but for all manufacturers in the United States,” said Andrew Keenan, a Partner at Verus Carbon Neutral. “They’re taking responsibility for the emissions they are creating today and have an excellent plan in place to significantly reduce their carbon footprint in the future.”
Zotos is supporting the following initiatives, helping to reduce carbon emissions locally and globally:
- Rocky Reach Run-of-River Hydroelectric Project – Located in north central Washington State on the Columbia River, the Rocky Reach Run-of-River Hydroelectric Project is recognized nationally for their efforts to protect the environment. In 2009, the project generated 5.4 million megawatt-hours of renewable electricity. In addition, more than 3 million dollars were invested in fish protection improvements. Run-of-river projects use the natural flow of water caused by changes in elevation.
- Valley Wood Carbon Sequestration Project – One of the Chicago Climate Exchange’s (CCX) first projects using a managed forest protocol, the Valley Wood Carbon Sequestration Project protects more than 64,000 acres of forested land. The project is centered on land stewardship, integrating reforestation, managing, growing, nurturing and harvesting of trees for useful products with the conservation of wildlife, plants, soil, air and water quality.
- Andhyodaya Biogas Project – Andhyodaya, a non-governmental organization based in Kerala, India, works with local farmers to convert organic waste into cooking gas. Andhyodaya aggregated 20,000 small-scale biogas projects, resulting in the offset of over 40,000 metric tons of CO2. The project helps to destroy methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes 21–25 times more towards global warming than CO2. The captured biogas replaces wood as a cooking fuel source, saving trees and reducing the chances of carbon monoxide poisoning.
“We are proud to have achieved this designation from Verus Carbon Neutral,” said Anthony Perdigao, Zotos Chief Sustainability Officer. “It has always been our goal to better the environment and we are looking forward to becoming a leader in sustainable business practices within the beauty industry.”
