Why Pact Three Went Carbon Neutral

Every organization and individual will ultimately need to go through the inevitable exercise of asking themselves why they exist. To retain customers, attract talented employees, maintain thriving relationships, and support a great self-relationship, our purpose needs to be clearly defined and understood.

Leaders need to understand why they lead and know what their direct reports care about. My “why” for starting and maintaining my business is supported by my need to support the transformation of business and industry. The movement I am helping drive is for organizations to be both purposeful and profitable. Before that purpose was clearly defined for me, I was stressed, confused, distracted, and honestly, not myself. That is where my journey began and I no longer feel that sense of angst. Last week, I continued to solidify the “why” of my work and the work of others that are pushing a similar agenda.

At the surface, many would assume Pact Three’s “why” is to provide organizations with the tools, processes, and ability to be the best version of themselves. Many may argue that I do what I do to support those looking for “more” and respond to the demand of their customers to be purposeful. While this is all true, the expansion of my “why” is to prove that doing the right thing as a business owner is the true source of success. This is my professional “legacy” I hope to leave on this earth.

I am here because my loved ones deserve to live in a world where the expectation is that what they read and assume is true. When they buy a granola bar, I want them to know that granola bar will be delicious, among other things. They should also know that the company treats their employees with respect, supports their community, maintains a regenerative supply chain, and does not hide harmful ingredients. They should feel confident applying for a job there if they feel so inclined.  

The same assumptions should be deemed factual when working with Pact Three. The service we provide is impactful and focused on so much more than profit for our clients. Profitability just happens to be an extra benefit when increasing a business’s social and environmental impact. We wanted to set the same expectations for ourselves, which is why we have gone carbon neutral and offset our annual emissions by 300%.

What does this all mean?

Pact Three has always been an environmentally conscious company. This month, we have deepened that commitment by taking direct action to reduce our climate impact. We are proud to now be a Carbon Neutral Business. The emissions tied to any work Pact Three performs will have its carbon footprint offset, through a new partnership with Tradewater.

What is Pact Three offsetting?

The daily actions Pact Three performs lead to the emissions of greenhouse gases. We have calculated what those emissions are by using Tradewater’s Free Business Carbon Calculator to measure things like our energy usage, transportation, and procurement to generate a final number of estimated annual emissions. To account for those emissions, we have purchased carbon offset credits through Tradewater, financially supporting the impactful work they do.

Why did we pick Tradewater over other climate benefit providers?

We are in the middle of a climate crisis. As a company, we believe that everyone must find ways to reduce and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions if we are going to prevent catastrophic climate change. Small to medium-sized enterprises like Pact Three are key players in this fight. All businesses, including ours, depend on logistics and human activities that emit greenhouse gases that contribute to this crisis. By joining Tradewater’s program, we are prioritizing the destruction of some of the most devastating greenhouse gases that can be prevented from going into the atmosphere - today. The “today” was crucial for us. As an organization, we are taking steps to measure our emissions, reduce as many as we can, and support real climate solutions to account for the rest.

What is next for Pact Three and our climate commitments?

If you have worked with us before or know our work, you know we love how different values and impact initiatives intersect. Measuring and offsetting your emissions can increase your B Impact Assessment score. Reducing your emissions can lead to cost savings and operational efficiencies. When you improve your environmental impact, you also support social and community-driven endeavors. I told you - we love impact co-benefits!

Successful businesses are built on a triple bottom line: people, planet, and profit.

Our next steps are to continue educating other organizations on their footprint, how to support impact-driven climate solutions, and ways to reduce emissions while still supporting growth. We will continue to empower other organizations to prioritize their workers, community, customers, governance, and environment. And we will do the same. Pact Three will continue to use our well-defined purpose to drive our activities, and we wish the same for you.

So, tell us! What is your purpose?