Guayaki Announces First Carbon-Subtracting Beverages
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 03.18.08
We've mentioned our love for the organic- and fair-trade-certified yerba mate by Guayaki before. Now the company has opted to go carbon-negative with its "carbon-subtracting" beverages.
Thanks to the vast carbon-sequestration that occurs in the South American rainforests where Guayaki's yerba mate is sustainably harvested, each 16-ounce package of San Mateo Loose Yerba Mate and Traditional Loose Yerba Mate, according to Guayaki, subtracts more carbon than it emits during the entire manufacturing process—from its harvesting south of the border, to its placement on store shelves in the United States—resulting in a net subtraction of 573 grams of carbon.
In addition to a label that explains the carbon-subtracting math, Guayaki will also be debuting new 100 percent biodegradable and home-compostable packaging this fall. ::Guayaki
Also possible to buy the loose leaves and make your own infusion. Traditionally, one puts a hollow silver spoon with holes in the end into the wet leaves - sometimes with powdered sugar added - and uses the handle as a straw. Much lower footrpint that way.
And of course, the vegetation that was cleared to start the coffee plantation was not a carbon sink at all...
/sarcasm
I appreciate the effort of the manufacturer, but you can't just ignore part of the picture.
Number 1 Yerba Mate is not coffee.
Number 2 there is no clear cutting by Guayaki.
Lesser companies trying to cash in on the Yerba Mate trend will clearcut and grow their Yerba Mate in the sun. Guayaki is shade grown under the natural canopy of the rain forest - the way is was meant to be grown. It takes more effort and it takes more money but what is given back to the earth makes it worth it.
I understand your skepticism but you suspicions are incorrect.