Los Angeles, CA, June 14--Bentley Prince Street, California's largest commercial carpet manufacturer, announced today its full support of Governor Schwarzenegger's new Executive Order calling for reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets for the state.
The company also declared its goal to develop new protocols that will make all its products "climate neutral," with net zero GHG emissions, by 2010.
"As California's largest commercial carpet manufacturer, we believe it's our responsibility to develop new innovations that preserve our environment. At the same time, we also must take an active role in educating and catalyzing our fellow businesses in the state to join in the effort," said Anthony Minite, president of Bentley Prince Street. "We fully endorse Governor Schwarzenegger's new targets and applaud his efforts to address this critical issue. We'll be at the forefront of leading California's fight against climate change and global warming, and strongly urge all our business neighbors to do the same."
This new goal is the latest step in Bentley Prince Street's aggressive environmental sustainability programs. Since 1996, the company has reduced absolute GHG emissions by 70% through a strategy that encompasses manufacturing processes, product innovations and renewable energy use. For example, increasing manufacturing process efficiencies – as well as creating new energy-efficient manufacturing systems – has resulted in a 33% reduction in energy use per unit of product output over the last 10 years.
Bentley Prince Street also offers a Cool Carpet option on all its products. By selecting this option, clients purchase "climate neutral" products, meaning that the GHG emissions emitted during the life cycle of the product are offset or balanced through the purchase of certified emission reduction credits (ERCs).
GHG emissions also are reduced through effective use of renewable energy. Currently, 100% of Bentley Prince Street's electrical energy requirements are made renewable through the purchase of Green Tags and the purchase of green energy directly from the grid. The company also has an on-site 100 kwh photovoltaic solar array that provides a portion of the electrical energy required for manufacturing processes.
Bentley Prince Street was the first charter partner in the California Climate Action Registry (CCAR) and was named the first Climate Action Leader of 2004. Bentley Prince Street also was the first CCAR member to certify its GHG emissions inventory with a third party and publicly report them through the Registry. Partnering with the Registry to track and reduce GHG emissions supports the company's goal to become a sustainable company that will eventually become a restorative enterprise that leads other Californians forward on the path to sustainability.
