26 Ways Badger Stands Up For the Climate

This month, more than 20,000 activists, government officials, and business leaders gathered in Glasgow for COP26. Happening five years since the Paris Agreement, the Conference marked a critical opportunity for business leaders and policy makers to collaborate on urgent systems change for the climate.

Since COP25 in 2019, over a thousand B Corps have made a commitment to become net zero by 2030 – a full 20 years ahead of the 2050 targets set in the Paris Agreement. We’re proud to be among the businesses who have made the pledge, and we believe meaningful actions and credible commitments towards significant carbon reduction are essential to tackling the climate crisis.

In honor of COP26, we’re celebrating these 26 ways Badger stands up for the climate. Why? Because the climate crisis can make us feel overwhelmed and it can make us feel frustrated with businesses that don’t seem to care. In a world of greenwashing, we thought we would communicate some of our direct actions.

1. 100% Solar - Last summer, with the help and partnership of ReVision Energy, we transitioned to 100% onsite renewable energy by installing one of the largest roof and ground-mounted solar arrays in the region at our Badger Factory. It was some of the best news of 2020!

2. Net Zero 2030 - At the 2019 UN Climate Change Conference, Badger joined over 500 fellow B Corps in publicly committing to reach Net Zero Carbon emissions by the year 2030, a full 20 years ahead of the 2050 goals set by the Paris Agreement. 

3. Climate Collaborative – We have made commitments through the Climate Collaborative to help reverse climate change through 5 different categories of impact: energy efficiency, policy and legislation, renewable energy, packaging, and forests.

4. Reef Safety Education – Because synthetic UV filters such as oxybenzone are demonstrably harming the health and vitality of coral reefs, and because it can be hard to tell the difference between authentic claims and greenwashing, education and transparency are at the heart of what we do. We are educator-founded which is why our website, blog, and social platforms are a treasure trove of information!

5. Protect Land + Sea Certification - In partnership with the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, we were one of the first manufacturers ever to achieve the rigorous Protect Land + Sea Certification, a seal verifying that a sunscreen does NOT contain any ingredients or contaminants considered harmful to coral reef environments, sea turtles, and other aquatic life.

6. Badger is a B Corp – Badger has been a Certified B Corp since 2011 and winner of numerous awards, including Best for the World in Environment from 2015-2019 and in 2021. This means we undergo rigorous auditing and reporting which are all publicly available to you! Check out our B Impact report here.

7. NH B Corp Legislation – Badger introduced and advocated for Benefit Corporation legislation here in NH which was passed into law in 2014. As a result, we were able to re-write our articles of incorporation to reflect a triple bottom line: people, planet, and profit. We helped make it legal for companies to include people and planet in their fiscal responsibilities. In other words, we helped legalize doing good! You can learn more here.

8. Badger Building - Our custom-built facility was designed by Badger Bill, founder and carpenter, and meets high standards for sustainability, including LEED Silver specifications. Did you know that our timber was all locally sourced from NH and VT, our counters are stuffed with recycled paper pulp, and our floors are sealed with all-natural PolyWhey instead of polyurethane, a commonly used petrochemical resin? We treated all of our desktops with… you guessed it... Badger Balm!

9. Badger Grounds - We built our manufacturing facility on the barren lands of an old sand pit in our hometown of Gilsum, NH. Through permaculture, organic, and regenerative practices, we are continually working to restore the health and biodiversity of our grounds.

10. Towards Zero Waste – Through waste audits and our Save Every Drop initiative, we’ve achieved a 97% diversion rate for our manufacturing facility. 

11. Regenerative Agriculture - In an effort to sequester CO2 back into the soil, we are making Badger HQ a regenerative hub, working toward a regenerative organic supply network, supporting regenerative agriculture legislation, and promoting regenerative awareness. 
    
    
12. Water Quality – 100% of water we use is returned to the land at the same or better quality, with no toxic wastewater produced.  
    
    
13. Waterless Products - We strive to reduce our water consumption through manufacturing waterless products. Waterless products are super concentrated and can be processed, warehoused, and shipped using less energy due to their compact size. 

14. Zinc Composting - The waste created from cleaning our sunscreen equipment is brought to a composting facility to be turned into beautiful, nutrient-rich compost which generates revenue for costly recycling programs.  

15. USDA Certified Organic - If it’s not safe to eat, why would you want it on your largest organ… your skin? The USDA’s National Organic Program (USDA NOP) is a food-based standard. It oversees the agricultural practices of our suppliers to ensure the crops are not sprayed with hazardous substances for fertilization or pest management and that they are GMO-free.

16. Fair Trade - Fairtrade changes the way trade works through better prices, decent working conditions and a fairer deal for farmers and workers in developing countries.

17. Renewable Credits – We purchase carbon offsets for Badger business travel! 

18. Shipping – We reuse cardboard boxes and use eco-friendly packing materials such as water-activated paper tape, scrap paper from our local newspaper, and biodegradable/recyclable Giami wrap.

19. FSC Certification – We use FSC-certified paper packaging at Badger, meaning it meets standards including prohibiting the harvest of rare old-growth forests, expanding water quality protections, and protecting customary rights of Indigenous people.⁠ Today, the FSC certifies 154.8 million acres in the US and Canada.

20. Product Packaging – We seriously care about our waste stream, which is why, despite an industry designed around cheap plastic, we package in infinitely recyclable tin-plated steel tins, widely recyclable glass and aluminum, FSC certified paperboard, or 50% PCR plastic as we continue our journey towards zero waste. Check out our efforts here.
    
    
21. Direct Supplier Relationships – We cultivate direct connections with our ingredient suppliers, including for our regeneratively grown food-grade olive oil, organic rose oil, biodynamic sunflower oil, and more.  
    
    
22. Global Climate Strike - On September 20, 2019, in solidarity with the Youth-Led Global #Climate Strike, Badger shut its doors, gave employees paid time off to volunteer and protest, hosted a digital “green out,” and donated 5% of proceeds to climate efforts.  
    
    
23. UN Convention on Biological Diversity - Badger’s Co-CEO Rebecca Hamilton addressed the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in support of organic agriculture and a moratorium on genetic engineering to preserve healthy ecosystems and biodiversity. 
    
    
24. Green Office – Here at the Badger Factory, we offer expanded recycling, energy-efficient hand dryers, and employee carpooling contests.
    
    
25. #Call4Climate – You know, just calling our legislators to encourage climate policy. On a Wednesday.
    
    
26. Rodale Institute – Did we mention that we were awarded the 2021 Alnoba CEO Environmental Leadership Award in recognition of our environmental policies and impact? This award came with a check for $10,000 which we, in turn, donated to the Rodale Institute for their leadership in growing the organics movement and regenerative agriculture. After all, “Healthy Soil = Healthy Food = Healthy People.” -J.I. Rodale.