Environmental Responsibility
Manufacturing anything is an inherently destructive process. Trees are cut down to make paper or cardboard, mining is needed to create steel, power is generated to drive all the processes needed to make each knife...
Because of this I think it's important to take as many steps as I can to reduce the impact that my business has on the environment. Having an amazing outdoors knife is no good if there's no outdoors left to enjoy!
I fully realize that no amount of carbon credits or tree planting can eliminate the environmental harm that manufacturing does, but I hope that taking what measures I can will help to safeguard our environment for future generations.
To minimize the harm that my business does I have taken the following steps:
- All materials are sourced from the USA or Canada to ensure they are created within the boundaries of strong environmental laws.
- My workshop is powered by 100% renewable energy.
- 'Gold Standard' carbon credits are purchased to cover emissions from freight, shipping and material production. Credits are purchased at 10x the calculated emissions to cover unknowns and to cover emissions from my suppliers.
- At least one tree is planted for every knife sold. Trees are planted as part of larger, independently audited, reforestation projects.
- Make a yearly donation to an organization that is helping push policies that fight climate change.
Further harm reductions are planned for the future and will be listed above as I implement them.
The plan going forward:
- Move to packaging that is made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials
- Move to packaging that is 100% recyclable
- Implement measures to reduce material waste
- Explore options for in-house recycling of waste materials like G10 chips, kydex scraps and steel chips
- Move my workshop outside the city to a building powered directly by solar and wind energy
2021 Report:
Power used and direct Co2 emissions went up in 2021 because I made more knives than in 2020, additionally I was more conservative with my Co2 calculations which also increased the estimated amounts by at least 10%.
New harm reductions implemented:
- Buy additional renewable power at the grid level to offset power use by my suppliers
- Buy carbon offsets to cover 10x my estimated direct emissions in order to offset Co2 production that I can't estimate and to cover emissions caused by my suppliers
- Made a donation to Clean Air Task Force to help further global policies that fight against climate change
Power:
| Total power used: 11,016 kW/h | Renewable energy purchased: 12,000 kW/h |
Co2 Emissions:
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Total estimated direct emissions: 772 kg Carbon credits purchased: 7,720 kg Co2e |
Tree planting:
- 300 trees planted. 1 or more per knife sold in 2021.
2021 Certificates:
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2020 Report:
New harm reductions implemented:
- Moved to smaller workshop and installed energy efficient heat pump for climate control.
- Average monthly power usage reduced from 1,550 kW/h to only 546 kW/h
- Eliminated the use of natural gas for heating
Power:
| Total power used: 8,914 kW/h | Renewable energy purchased: 9,000 kW/h |
Co2 Emissions:
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Total estimated direct emissions: 602 kg Carbon credits purchased: 6,000 kg Co2e |
Tree planting:
- 260 trees planted. 1 or more per knife sold in 2020.
2020 Certificates:
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Notes:
- Co2 produced by shipping is calculated using the DHL Carbon Calculator.
- Co2 from steel production is calculated using numbers published by the city of Winnipeg.
- Renewable power is supplied by Bullfrog Power.
- Carbon credits are purchased through Less.
- Tree planting is arranged through Carbonfund.