MADISON, WISC.—Leonardo Academy, respected for its work on sustainable buildings and climate change, has provided third-party carbon negative certification for the global operations of Milliken & Company without purchased offset credits. The Leonardo Academy Draft Standard for Trial Use LEO-5000 provided the criteria used in this pilot program.
“Milliken is providing great leadership in sustainability actions,” said Michael Arny, founder and president of the Leonardo Academy.
The draft standard covers emissions inventories, offsets and reduction credits. The international textile and chemical manufacturer previously applied this standard to all of its operation in the United States. Milliken has now quantified emissions from its direct energy use and from its electrical energy use, as well as quantifying the carbon sequestration delivered by its forests.
Principles of Sound Stewardship
“Milliken continues to explore alternative energy sources; to reduce energy consumption and related emissions in operations; and to follow principles of sound stewardship in managing forests in our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint,” said Russell Grizzle, president, Global Floor Covering Division of Milliken & Company.
Leonardo Academy has carried out the analysis and verified the results according to the requirements of the draft standard. Under the Leonardo Draft Standard for Trial Use LEO-5000 criteria, Milliken’s worldwide operations annually produce more carbon sequestration credits than the quantity of carbon emitted.
To comply with the language of the draft standard, an inventory of emissions was completed that included a measure of 1) direct energy use on all sites and the emissions caused by the electricity Milliken uses, and 2) Level 4 Category of Green House Gas Emissions, which means that carbon dioxide and the other five major greenhouse gases have been addressed; and 3) emissions sequestered in Milliken’s forests.
