Jana, Inc. leading the bottled water industry to a more carbon-neutral future

ANN ARBOR, Mich., USA and ZAGREB, Croatia (April 17, 2013) – Leading South Eastern Europe bottled water producer Jana, Inc. (dba Jamnica d.d.) has earned CarbonFree® certification from Carbonfund.org and NSF Sustainability, a division of global public health organization NSF International. CarbonFree® product certification is a credible, transparent way for Jana to provide carbon-neutral bottled water products to its customers in North America.

Carbon footprints, water quality and safety are important topics to consumers.  An independent survey conducted on behalf of NSF International revealed that 55 percent of safety-minded consumers* are concerned about their carbon footprint, and 61 percent are concerned about the quality and safety of bottled water products.

Jamnica, as part of Agrokor Company, is the largest manufacturer of natural mineral water and non-alcoholic beverages in Croatia with more than 180 years of tradition. To address the environmental impacts of its products, Jana underwent a detailed life cycle assessment to measure the carbon emissions produced from its bottled water products in North America. Jana then offset its carbon emissions through investment in third-party validated renewable energy, energy efficiency and forestry carbon offset projects provided by Carbonfund.org, a leading nonprofit and developer of the CarbonFree® Product Certification program, the first carbon neutral product label in North America.

In addition to CarbonFree® certification, Jana has held NSF bottled water certification since 2008. This program requires annual product testing and facility audits to ensure ongoing compliance with the strict quality and safety standards of the program.

“The NSF bottled water and CarbonFree® certification labels on Jana’s bottled water products communicate that Jana is committed to both the health and safety of its customers as well as reducing its environmental impact,” said Tom Bruursema, NSF Sustainability General Manager.

"Jana is the first product in the region certified by the Carbonfund.org Foundation, Inc. Thus, we are very proud to be environmentally friendly in keeping with our responsibilities as the biggest producer of water in Croatia," said Ivana Petricevic, Jamnica Quality Director.

“With more companies recognizing the importance and value of offering carbon-neutral products, carbon content labeling is a vital tool for companies to market their commitment to sustainability,” said Eric Carlson, President of Carbonfund.org. “Our CarbonFree®label is widely recognized by companies throughout North America as a preferred mark that assures a comprehensive process was used to achieve carbon neutrality.”

How the CarbonFree® Product Certification Program Works
The CarbonFree® Product Certification program uses life cycle assessments (LCAs) to determine the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over a product’s entire life cycle. GHG emissions (expressed as carbon dioxide equivalents) that cannot be reduced or eliminated from the products’ life cycle are offset or ‘neutralized’ with third-party validated renewable energy, energy efficiency and forestry carbon offset projects.

A carbon offset is a verifiable reduction in carbon emissions somewhere in the world other than where the emission is generated. These external reductions offer clean energy transformation (e.g. wind, solar), sequestration (e.g. forestry) and clean technology (e.g. energy efficiency). The projects also offer a range of benefits including conservation, clean water, job creation and innovation. Credits are generated when a project is verified and registered – allowing companies to purchase these credits and offset the emissions produced in the manufacturing and use of their products. These credits are then permanently ‘retired’ on behalf of the product/company.

CarbonFree® certified products earn the use of the CarbonFree® mark along with being listed in the Carbonfund.org online product certification database. The CarbonFree® mark can be found on a variety of products today, including food, beverage, electronics and apparel.

To learn more about the CarbonFree® certification, contact Dennis Gillan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit Carbonfund.org and NSF International’s website.

About Jamnica: Jamnica, as part of Agrokor Company, is the largest manufacturer of natural mineral water and non-alcoholic beverages in Croatia with more than 180 years of tradition. Due to investments in modernization and new technologies, Jamnica has grown to be one of the most advanced European mineral water bottling plants with annual sales of more than 500 million liters.

Jamnica’s product portfolio is divided into two main groups: mineral water and soft drinks. Jamnica has three production plants in Croatia: one for natural mineral water in Jamnicka Kiselica, another for natural mineral water and non-alcoholic beverages in St. Jana and a third for fruit juices in Jastrebarsko. Jamnica also owns Sarajevski Kiseljak, the largest bottling plant for natural mineral water and non-alcoholic beverages in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the Fonyódi mineral water bottling plant in Hungary.

Jamnica is certified according to quality, environmental and food safety standards (ISO 9001:2000, ISO 14001:2004 and HACCP in relation to Codex Alimentarius). Jana is Croatia's most awarded and world renowned bottled water, receiving several international awards and certificates.  Jana’s natural mineral water, which is listed in the Directory of Sanitarily Approved Food Establishments for Armed Forces Procurement, has received NSF International bottled water certification to U.S. FDA standards and has a kosher certificate.

About Carbonfund.org Foundation: Carbonfund.org is a leading nonprofit climate solutions organization, making it easy and affordable for individuals, businesses and organizations to reduce their climate impact and hasten our transition to a low-carbon economy. Carbonfund.org supports innovative renewable energy, energy efficiency and forestry projects globally that reduce carbon emissions and help people. Carbonfund.org has worked with over 2,000 corporate and nonprofit partners. More at www.carbonfund.org.

About NSF International: NSF International is a global independent organization that writes standards, and tests and certifies products for the construction, food, water and consumer goods industries to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment (nsf.org). Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide. NSF International has been collaborating with the World Health Organization since 1997 in water quality and safety, food safety and indoor environments.

NSF Sustainability draws upon this expertise in standards development, product assurance and certification, advisory services and quality management systems to help companies green their products, operations, systems and supply chains. Product assessments include testing and certification for more sustainable consumer and commercial products. Through its National Center for Sustainability Standards, NSF also develops sustainability standards for products such as carpet, flooring and other commercial building materials.

Additional NSF services include NSF Education and Training, safety audits for the food and water industries, nutritional/dietary supplement certification, organic certification provided by QAI (Quality Assurance International) and management systems certifications delivered through NSF International Strategic Registrations (NSF-ISR). NSF-ISR services include ISO 14001 environmental management systems, Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and chain of custody (COC) certifications.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Greta Houlahan
NSF International
Phone: 734-913-5723
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

*Safety-minded consumers are defined as U.S. consumers between the ages of 25-54 that qualify on at least three of the four following criteria: 1) drink bottled or filtered water, 2) take dietary supplements, 3) read product labels, 4) seek information on product safety or certification.

CarbonFree Certification from NSF International and Carbonfund.org demonstrates product is environmentally friendly and carbon neutral

ANN ARBOR, Mich. & LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. (April 16, 2013) - Motorola Mobility LLC has added a CarbonFree® certified product to its list of mobile devices and accessories that are sold to customers as carbon neutral products. Previous products include the Motorola MOTO W233 Renew, EcoMoto car charger, Motorola CITRUS and the P793 and P893 universal portable power products, all of which demonstrate Motorola Mobility's efforts to identify ways to reduce the carbon impact of its business. The latest addition the series is the Motorola P4000 – a universal dual-charging portable power pack.

With the CarbonFree Product Certification Program, Motorola has mitigated the energy spent to manufacture, distribute and use the product. This label, jointly offered by NSF International’s Sustainability Division and Carbonfund.org, ensures that customers are using a product that has been carbon offset through high standard, third-party verified carbon reduction projects. The label is a meaningful, transparent way for consumers to recognize environmentally friendly, carbon neutral products.

“Earning CarbonFree certification from NSF International underscores Motorola’s commitment to the environment and helps Motorola address an increasingly important consumer concern. During a recent consumer survey conducted on behalf of NSF International, more than 50 percent of those surveyed expressed concerns about their own personal carbon footprint,” said Tom Bruursema, General Manager of NSF Sustainability.

Other products made by Motorola that are CarbonFree certified include the Motorola MOTO W233 Renew, EcoMoto car charger and the Motorola CITRUS.

To learn more about CarbonFree® certification, contact Dennis Gillan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 734-476-2543, or visit NSF International’s website. 

Motorola P793, P893 and P4000 universal portable chargers are compatible with all USB charging mobile devices including iPhone, Blackberry, Samsung, LG, Nokia, and others. In addition, the devices also boast the ability to charge two devices at once, providing up to five extra hours of talk time for your mobile phone. The Motorola P4000 is available through multiple retail outlets.

About Motorola Mobility: Motorola Mobility, owned by Google, fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people's lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and data delivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. For more information visit www.motorola.com/mobility.  

About Carbonfund.org Foundation: Carbonfund.org is a leading nonprofit climate solutions organization, making it easy and affordable for individuals, businesses and organizations to reduce their climate impact and hasten our transition to a low-carbon economy. Carbonfund.org supports innovative renewable energy, energy efficiency and forestry projects globally that reduce carbon emissions and help people. Carbonfund.org has worked with over 2,000 corporate and nonprofit partners. More at www.carbonfund.org.

About NSF International: NSF International is a global, independent organization that writes standards, and tests and certifies products for the food, water and consumer goods industries to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment (nsf.org). Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide. NSF is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety and Indoor Environment. NSF Sustainability draws upon this expertise in standards development, product assurance and certification, advisory services and quality management systems to help companies green their products, operations, systems and supply chains. Product assessments include testing and certification for sustainable products such as green chemicals and building products. Through its National Center for Sustainability Standards, NSF also develops sustainability standards for products such as carpet, flooring, and other commercial building materials. Additional NSF services include Education and Training, safety audits for the food and water industries, organic certification provided by QAI (Quality Assurance International) and management systems registrations delivered through NSF International Strategic Registrations (NSF-ISR). NSF-ISR services include ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems registration, Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Chain of Custody (COC) certifications.

Media Contact: Greta Houlahan – NSF International – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. – 734-913-5723

CarbonFree® product certification  offers companies a method to quantify, reduce and offset greenhouse gas  emissions

ANN ARBOR, Mich., USA and TROIS-RIVIÈRES, Quebec, Canada (February 25, 2013)  – Bio-Lub Canada Inc., developer of antifriction treatments and solutions for the  ecological and biodegradable degreasing industry, has earned the first CarbonFree® certification in the industry for  its bio-hydraulic fluid from Carbonfund.org and NSF Sustainability, a division  of global independent public health organization NSF International. As a  result, industries that utilize hydraulic processes (automobile, construction  machinery, excavation, farming, forestry and others) now have access to an  environmentally-friendly, carbon-neutral ISO 46 hydraulic fluid.

Hydraulic systems play an important role in our daily lives.  Elevators, forklifts, commercial lawnmowers, garbage trucks, farming equipment,  aircraft flight control systems and construction equipment such as loaders or  bulldozers all use as much as 100 liters (26.4 gallons) of hydraulic  fluid.  Some loss to the environment is  inevitable. With Bio-Lub biobased hydraulic fluid there will be little, if any,  environmental impact. By earning CarbonFree® certification for its BLC 710 bio-hydraulic fluid (in 20-, 205- and  1000-liter packaging), Bio-Lub is helping environmentally conscious  organizations reduce their carbon footprint and impact on the environment. The bio-hydraulic  fluids are made from vegetable oils derived from a renewable source and are also  USDA certified as 96 percent biobased under the BioPreferred® program.

To address its products’ environmental impacts, Bio-Lub  Canada underwent a detailed life cycle assessment to measure the carbon  emissions produced from its bio-hydraulic fluid products sold worldwide. To  achieve carbon neutrality for the products, Bio-Lub offset the per-unit carbon  footprint through investment in third-party validated renewable energy, energy  efficiency and forestry carbon offset projects. These carbon offset projects are supported  through the Carbonfund.org Foundation, a leading nonprofit and developer of the  CarbonFree® Product Certification program, the first carbon neutral  product label in North America.

“Using environmentally friendly ISO 46 bio-hydraulic fluids  such as Bio-Lub’s is particularly important for sensitive environmental applications  such as farming and marine dredging. By earning CarbonFree® certification,   Bio-Lub is taking its commitment to the environment a step further through  offsetting the greenhouse gasses made when producing and distributing the  products,” said Tom Bruursema, NSF Sustainability General Manager. 

“We at Bio-Lub are excited that  our BLC-700 series is the first eco-friendly hydraulic fluid in our industry to  be certified worldwide as CarbonFree® by NSF International and Carbonfund.org,” said Michel Cordeau, CEO of Bio-Lub  Canada Inc.  “Bio-Lub products are  designed for superior performance and  low environmental impact and Carbonfree®  certification is just one more way to validate our commitment to  environmentally preferred products.”

How the CarbonFree® Product Certification Program  Works
The CarbonFree® Product Certification program uses life cycle assessments  (LCAs) to determine the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over a product’s entire  life cycle. GHG emissions (expressed as carbon dioxide equivalents) that cannot  be reduced or eliminated from the product’s life cycle are offset or  ‘neutralized’ with third-party validated renewable energy, energy efficiency  and forestry carbon offset  projects.

A carbon offset is a verifiable reduction in carbon  emissions somewhere in the world other than where the emission is generated.  These external reductions offer clean energy transformation (e.g. wind, solar),  sequestration (e.g. forestry) and clean technology (e.g. energy efficiency).  The projects also offer a range of benefits including conservation, clean  water, job creation and innovation. Credits are generated when a project is  verified and registered – allowing companies to purchase these credits and  offset the emissions produced in the manufacturing and use of their products.  These credits are then permanently ‘retired’ on behalf of the product/company.

CarbonFree® certified products earn the use of the  CarbonFree® mark along with being listed in the Carbonfund.org online  product certification database. The CarbonFree® mark can be found on  a variety of products today, including foods, beverages, electronics and  apparel.

To learn more about the CarbonFree® certification,  contact Dennis Gillan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 734-476-2543, or visit Carbonfund.org and NSF  International’s websites.

AboutCarbonfund.org Foundation: Carbonfund.org is a leading nonprofit climate solutions organization, making it easy and affordable  for individuals, businesses and organizations to reduce their climate impact  and hasten our transition to a low-carbon economy. Carbonfund.org supports  innovative renewable energy, energy efficiency and forestry projects globally  that reduce carbon emissions and help people. Carbonfund.org has worked with  over 2,000 corporate and nonprofit partners. More at www.carbonfund.org.

About NSF International: NSF International is a  global independent organization that writes standards, and tests and certifies  products for the construction, food, water and consumer goods industries to  minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment (nsf.org). Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to  protecting human health and safety worldwide.

NSF  Sustainability draws upon this expertise in standards development,  product assurance and certification, advisory services and quality management  systems to help companies green their products, operations, systems and supply  chains. Product assessments include testing and certification for more  sustainable consumer and commercial products. NSF is also an approved testing laboratory (under ASTM D6866) for  conducting biobased testing. Through its National Center for Sustainability  Standards, NSF also develops sustainability standards for products such as  carpet, flooring and other commercial building materials.

Additional NSF services include NSF Education and Training,  safety audits for the food and water industries, nutritional/dietary supplement   certification, organic certification provided by QAI (Quality Assurance  International) and management systems registrations delivered through NSF  International Strategic Registrations (NSF-ISR). NSF-ISR services include ISO  14001 environmental management systems registration and Sustainable Forestry  Initiative (SFI) and Chain of Custody (COC) certifications.

MEDIA CONTACT: 
Greta Houlahan
NSF International
Phone: 734-913-5723
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This Sunday approximately 35,000 protesters gathered on the National Mall to march past the White House and demand action on climate change.  The Forward on Climate Change march was said to be the largest climate rally in U.S. history.  Protestors organized by groups such as Sierra Club and 350.org’s aim was to urge President Obama to reject the Keystone XL pipeline project and set limits on carbon pollution from both new and existing power plants.  Last year, the EPA proposed limits only on new plants.

For quite some time, Congress has remained gridlocked on the issue of climate change.  President Obama has promised to tackle the problem on more than one occasion, but perhaps we the people should consider the effect we can have on bringing about meaningful change.  Top down efforts are certainly necessary, but we should all be supporting more bottom up efforts as well.  After all, that’s how broad changes have been achieved before. 

Take for instance the Civil Rights movement.  The White House and Congress were encouraged to overcome their extensive political reservations and bring about true change on the issues of racial equality and voting rights only after a strong grass-roots movement led at the local level by activists such as the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. changed public opinion and made it politically unacceptable to do nothing.

There are other examples of successful grass-roots movements, but the core message is that we have to begin leveraging our bottom up power.  This weekend’s rally was a great start.  Let’s build on the momentum and begin organized, local activism, especially in the districts and states of those members of Congress that are hesitant to act on global warming. 

We cannot expect President Obama to do all of the work on combating climate change.  Everyone can do their part at the local level and even in their own homes.  Let’s also lessen the demand for energy.  We live in such a blessed country, but using less energy and being more efficient is in everyone’s best interests.  Here are some good ways to start reducing your carbon footprint, and then you can also go carbon neutral and offset the rest.

We all have a responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint and lessen the impact of global warming. That’s why the 2013 Green Inaugural Ball, aside from “greening” the event, has teamed up with Carbonfund.org to reduce its carbon footprint with two carbon offset projects: The Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge Reforestation Project and the New Bedford Landfill Gas-to-Energy Methane Project.

As a green event, we just couldn’t miss out on the opportunity to reduce the Green Ball’s climate impact, and help pave the road toward a clean energy future.

Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge Reforestation

The Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge Reforestation Project, located in Tallulah, LA., is dedicated to restoring native bottomland hardwood forests in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley region of Northeastern Louisiana.

This area was once covered in dense forests, but now it supports less than 20% of its original 22 million forested acres due to decades of land conversion for agriculture. Why are forestry projects important? They help offset the effects of climate change, and help improve the quality of top soil, reduce and control erosion, protect and filter water while reducing the threat of flooding, produce oxygen and nutrients and provide habitats for wildlife.

New Bedford Landfill  Gas-to-Energy Methane Project

This landfill gas-to-energy plant, located in Greater New Bedford, MA., not only produces 3.3 megawatts hours of clean electricity, but also reduces the amount of methane released into our atmosphere. Why is the destruction of methane important? It’s approximately 21 to 23 times more powerful as a greenhouse than carbon dioxide, and a major contributor to climate change. A major concern about climate change is the release of an enormous amount of methane –previously trapped in permafrost in frozen tundra areas like Siberia and Northern Canada – into our atmosphere.

Want to reduce your carbon footprint? Check out this list produced by Carbonfund.org on how you can do just that:
http://www.carbonfund.org/reduce

Haven’t purchased your 2013 Green Inaugural Ball ticket yet? Purchase them here: http://www.nwf.org/2013-green-inaugural-ball.aspx
Heading to the Green Ball? Don’t forget to tweet using the #GreenBall2013 hashtag.

The Earth cannot use words to speak for itself, but if it could what would be on its climate wishlist this holiday season?

Environmental activists and climate scientists have done a good job of communicating the risks of climate change.  Part of the issue is that it’s a delicate balance between scaring people so thoroughly that they don’t think there is anything they can do about global warming and encouraging people to make any changes that positively impact the environment, even small ones to start.  Perhaps we’ve also underestimated the importance of personal experience. 

The facts on climate change alone are not enough.  We’ve had solid, scientific evidence for many years that global warming is man-made and happening right now.  However, many people need to experience the effects for themselves in order for the light bulb to go off in their heads.  Hurricane Sandy and other extreme weather events are helping people to connect the dots, but now that process has begun the question then becomes, “What next?”

We have a responsibility to be good stewards of the planet.  That is what the climate needs and wants this holiday season.  There are two main changes that we can undertake to fulfill the planet’s climate wishlist.  The first is to lower our carbon footprints.  Ask yourself, do I really need to leave my lights on all day at home when I am not there?  Can I combine trips in the car to drive less or take public transportation instead?  What simple steps can I take to save energy and myself some money as well?

The second change is to offset the rest of your carbon footprint.  There are many affordable options to make this holiday season a reality, not just for the planet, but for future generations also.  Any positive steps you take are welcome and really do make a difference.  Although the planet cannot use words to thank you, reducing what you can and offsetting the rest is a beautiful gift and a wonderful place to start this holiday season.

CarbonFree certification from NSF International and Carbonfund.org Foundation

demonstrate product is carbon-neutral  

            Sprint, LG Bring Users Carbon Neutral Cell Phone in Time for the Holidays

BETHESDA, Md., Nov. 12,  2012 — The Carbonfund.org Foundation applauded the announcement by LG Electronics USA and Sprint that the LG Mach smartphone with environmentally friendlier features will be available Nov. 11.  

LG Mach, available from Sprint for $99 with a two-year contract, has earned the CarbonFree® label under the rigorous product certification program offered by the Carbonfund.org Foundation and NSF International’s Sustainability division. 

With the CarbonFree Certified Product program, LG has offset the carbon footprint of the manufacturing of the LG Mach at no extra cost to the customer through the use of third-party verified carbon reduction projects

“Being part of the CarbonFree Certified Product program helps demonstrate LG’s overarching commitment to the environment” said Tom Bruursema, General Manager of NSF Sustainability.

“With its new CarbonFree certified mobile phone, LG is helping to fight climate change and continuing to provide consumers with cutting-edge products” stated Carbonfund.org president Eric Carlson.

The LG Mach is the latest carbon neutral product in a line of CarbonFree certified offerings. LG Electronics was the first in its industry to distribute home appliances, solar panels and other consumer electronics that were part of the CarbonFree Certified Product Program. These CarbonFreeCertified Products represent another step in LG's commitment to environmental sustainability and energy-efficient products and services, including a wide range of ENERGY STAR^® -qualified appliances and electronics products.

# # # 

About LG Electronics USA: LG Electronics USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a $49 billion global force and technology leader in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications. In the United States, LG Electronics sells a range of stylish and innovative mobile phones, home entertainment products,  home appliances, and air conditioning systems and energy solutions, all under LG’s “Life’s Good” marketing theme.  LG Electronics is a 2012 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year. For more information, please visit www.lg.com.

About Carbonfund.org Foundation: Carbonfund.org is a leading nonprofit climate solutions organization, making it easy and affordable for individuals, businesses and organizations to reduce their climate impact and hasten our transition to a low-carbon economy. Carbonfund.org supports innovative renewable energy, energy efficiency and forestry projects globally that reduce carbon emissions and help people. Carbonfund.org has worked with over 2,000 corporate and nonprofit partners. More at www.carbonfund.org.

About NSF International: NSF International is an independent organization that writes standards, tests and certifies products for the construction, food, water and consumer goods industries to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment (nsf.org). NSF Sustainability (inserted hyperlink)  draws upon this expertise in standards development, product assurance and certification, advisory services and quality management systems to help companies green their products, operations, systems and supply chains. Product assessments include testing and certification for sustainable products such as green chemicals and building products. Through its National Center for Sustainability Standards, NSF also develops sustainability standards for products such as carpet, flooring, and other commercial building materials.

ANN ARBOR, Mich., BETHESDA, Md. & BARRIE, Ontario, Canada (September 18, 2012) - Carbonfund.org Foundation and NSF International are pleased to announce the renewal of LEI Electronics’ Eco Alkalines™ batteries into the CarbonFree® Product Certification Program. In addition to completing a carbon footprint, the batteries continue to meet and exceed some of the most important international standards such as PAS 2050 (carbon label standard) and ISO 14044 (life cycle assessment standard).

LEI’s Eco Alkalines™ batteries are entering their third year under the CarbonFree® Product Certification Program offered through NSF International’s Sustainability Division. CarbonFree® certified products are available in multiple countries and LEI reports increasing sales as the product continues to gain acceptance from consumers seeking a cleaner way to meet their battery needs. For example, retailers such as Best Buy, Costco, Grainger, Walmart, Amazon, The Home Depot and many others are recognizing the value of these batteries and offering them to their eco-conscious customers. Commercial customers also report using LEI’s Eco Alkalines™ batteries to assist in meeting their green goals.

LEI Electronics Eco Alkalines™ batteries may also contribute to earning LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) credits. LEED was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to provide building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operation and maintenance solutions. LEED is based on a credit system and points are allocated based on the potential environmental impacts and human benefits of each credit. Under the current LEED credit system, Eco Alkalines™ batteries may contribute to earning one prerequisite and one point under the LEED category of Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance (EBOM) rating system.

Lionel Lalonde, Partner and Vice President of Sales at Eco Alkalines™, credits their steadily increasing sales to the growing consumer demand for sustainable products and the competitive market edge and product confidence associated with the CarbonFree® Product Certification Program. "Certification sets us apart from our competitors," says Lalonde. "We are currently the world's only disposable alkaline battery with this certification. We have found that certification has helped to increase our market share and create customer and brand loyalty among consumers who are seeking to purchase and use eco-friendly products."

CarbonFree® certification also lends credibility to Eco Alkalines™, a relatively newer brand, in a marketplace of well-known battery products. "Although many products claim to be ‘green’ or ‘eco-friendly,’ these terms are often used loosely or without a clear description of what that means. We wanted third-party verification from two trusted and recognizable organizations – Carbonfund.org and NSF International - so that consumers would understand and have faith in our green claims," added Lalonde.

Eric Carlson, President of Carbonfund.org Foundation, agrees, “Eco Alkalines™ batteries are an important solution to climate change, providing consumers a simple and affordable way to meet their daily needs while limiting their impact on our environment and supporting innovative carbon-reducing projects globally. Eco Alkalines™ is continuing its commitment to environmental protection and proof positive that what is good for the planet is also good business.”

“By maintaining its CarbonFree® certification through NSF International, LEI’s Eco Alkalines™ batteries continue to lead the disposable battery industry to a more sustainable future and provide businesses and consumers with a certified carbon neutral battery that will help them achieve their green building and sustainability goals,” said Tom Bruursema, General Manager of NSF Sustainability.

Manufactured with 0 percent mercury, lead, and cadmium, Eco Alkalines™ batteries set the standard for responsible disposable alkaline batteries. Eco Alkalines™ brand batteries have ZERO of these heavy metals while all other batteries carry at least one or more of these toxic elements. Eco Alkalines™ batteries use recycled materials where possible and contain 98 percent plus recyclable content. While they are considered landfill safe, recycling is still advised where available. Eco Alkalines™ also have a patented leak resistant seal, ensuring they will not leak into devices.

Visit Eco Alkalines™ at the annual Greenbuild Conference November 14-15 at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, Calif. Or learn more by visiting: www.leiproducts.com/eco-alkalines.

To learn more about the CarbonFree® Certification contact Dennis Gillan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , 734-476-2543, or visit Carbonfund.org and NSF International’s website.

About LEI: LEI was established as Logitech Electronics Inc. in 1988. LEI quickly grew to a flourishing import, wholesale, and distribution business with offices in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Shenzhen to support the growing North American business. In addition to the domestic business LEI provided private label products for KOSS Corporation, Sanyo Canada and in excess of 500 private label products for the former RadioShack Canada. Today LEI is an ISO 9001:2008 registered company. They specialize in brand development, global sourcing, web fulfillment, and distribution with an emphasis on eco-friendly products.

AboutCarbonfund.org Foundation: Carbonfund.org is a leading nonprofit climate solutions organization, making it easy and affordable for individuals, businesses and organizations to reduce their climate impact and hasten our transition to a low-carbon economy. Carbonfund.org supports innovative renewable energy, energy efficiency and forestry projects globally that reduce carbon emissions and help people. Carbonfund.org has worked with over 2,000 corporate and nonprofit partners. More at www.carbonfund.org.

About NSF International: NSF International is an independent organization that writes standards, tests and certifies products for the construction, food, water and consumer goods industries to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment (nsf.org). Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide. NSF is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety and Indoor Environment.

NSF Sustainability draws upon this expertise in standards development, product assurance and certification, advisory services and quality management systems to help companies green their products, operations, systems and supply chains. Product assessments include testing and certification for sustainable products such as green chemicals and building products. Through its National Center for Sustainability Standards, NSF also develops sustainability standards for products such as carpet, flooring, and other commercial building materials.

Additional NSF services include Education and Training, safety audits for the food and water industries, nutritional/dietary supplement certification, organic certification provided by QAI (Quality Assurance International) and management systems registrations delivered through NSF International Strategic Registrations (NSF-ISR). NSF-ISR services include ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems registration, Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Chain of Custody (COC) certifications.

Carbonfund.org supports several carbon reduction and energy efficiency projects such as the Truck Stop Electrification system, a project that is supported in part by Clean Air Cab’s fleet emissions neutralization program.

Clean Air Cab is central Arizona’s first carbon-neutral taxicab fleet; they partner with Carbonfund.org to calculate and neutralize the carbon emissions generated by its fleet of Toyota Priuses. 

"We chose Carbonfund.org because unlike most companies selling offsets, Carbonfund.org is a non-profit. Clean Air Cab believes in giving back and we are happy to support a non-profit organization," affirms Clean Air Cab founder, Steve Lopez.

The company started by selecting the Toyota Prius, a fuel efficient vehicle for its taxicab fleet.  A Ford Crown Victoria, the “traditional” taxicab vehicle, produces two and half times the amount of CO₂ per year compared to the 2010 Toyota Prius.  But the Prius still creates carbon emissions, so each quarter Clean Air Cab checks its total fleet mileage with Carbonfund.org to ensure that it has secured a sufficient quantity of carbon credits to completely neutralize fleet emissions.

Clean Air Cab’s mission “to make it affordable and convenient for everyone to go green” is in lockstep with Carbonfund.org.  We are happy to partner with an environmentally conscientious company that provides a carbon neutral transportation alternative to central Arizona communities.

June has traditionally been the most popular month for weddings.  According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s National Vital Statistics Report for 2009, the latest data available on marriages, June is tied with July and closely followed by August, then September, and then October in order of most to least popular months for weddings.  This means wedding season is just getting underway. 

Travel, whether by air or car, generates large amounts of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, and for most weddings is the biggest contributor to its carbon footprint.  Carbonfund.org offers a helpful and easy-to-use emissions calculator to determine the level of carbon dioxide your wedding events will emit into the air.

It’s simple and affordable to have a carbon neutral wedding.  If you don’t know the exact numbers try a preset amount.  For example, the 15-ton preset option may be right for you if you have more than 100 guests and many of them are flying.  The 50-ton option can be used for larger weddings of over 200 guests, many of whom are flying, or destination weddings, which involve a lot of travel.

As you prepare for the beginning of a new life together, it is important to share this special time with friends and family.  Your wedding is a celebration of the future, and you can make it a celebration for our planet's future as well!

Go to http://www.carbonfund.org/weddings to learn more about how you can offset the global warming emissions impact of your special day.