Our 2021 Climate Impact Full Disclosure
A new approach:
Thirty-three years ago, Seventh Generation was founded on a fairly radical notion: that corporations could be a powerful force for positive change and play an important role in securing a just and sustainable world.
As the climate crisis continues to accelerate, we wonder... could we have missed something? The answer is yes. Now we're taking a new route to progress: follow our money.
First, Our Climate Impacts: Footprint
We understand that the urgency of the climate crisis requires ambitious, science-based action from actors across the business, political, and community spectrum. In response we joined leading companies in setting aggressive goals to mitigate GHGs.
Now, Our Climate Impacts Fingerprint
As you travel through your day, consider how many places you leave your fingerprint - on the door to your house, on your computer, on the coffee mug you used at your local bakery. Your fingerprint is likely not the only fingerprint on these items, but it is a mark of your impact. We envision our climate "fingerprint" similarly. This is a new concept. It is not as finely honed as a 'carbon footprint', which has a technical definition and accepted methodologies for assessing. Yet, we can't get to real zero unless we understand all the ways our business contributes to the climate crisis - both positively and negatively.
Our Climate Fingerprint Methodology
Climate Fingerprints is a new concept that analyzes how our business operations dollars may indirectly support the fossil fuel industry.
Evaluating our Fingerprint
We consulted experts working in this space and drew from their collective brainpower to create an evaluation methodology that includes quantitative and qualitative elements. Broadly, the approach includes spend and impact analysis of:
• Financial services
• Marketing & creative services
• Advocacy
• Philanthropy
• Political Contributions
This is a first attempt and there will undoubtedly be things we've missed or better approaches. But we also know that we will no longer be complicit and amplify the voice and power of fossil fuel-related companies.
But we also know that we will no longer be complicit and amplify the voice and power of fossil fuel-related companies.
For full Footprint, Fingerprint, and methodology, download the full report
Our Fingerprint Highlights
Financial Service & Insurance Providers
At the highest level, all our financial partners are taking some climate action, but there is a lot of room for improvement.
Estimated CO2 emissions fingerprint
Using a methodology developed by the authors of the Carbon Bankroll Report, we estimated our portion of Unilever U.S. financed emissions.
Marketing & Creative Services
There is tremendous opportunity for building climate capacity and leadership in our marketing and creative services partner pool.
Curious about your own fingerprint?
For full Footprint, Fingerprint, and methodology, download the full report
