“Dad’s cookies” to be carbon neutral as part of a new CSR initiative

Who knew that improving the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program of your business could also be very tasty? While I often research and write about organic farming methods and alternate energy vehicles rarely do I find a story that not only improves the environment as part of a CSR measure but also makes me want to have a snack with my cup of tea. Kraft Canada are partnering with Bullfrog Power on a brand-new project that will result in millions of Dad’s oatmeal cookies becoming low carbon cookies, but don’t worry the changes will only be impacting the baking and packaging, they will still taste exactly the same!

Bullfrog Power is Canada’s 100% green energy provider of renewable energy solutions that allow homes and businesses to reduce their environmental impact and help create a cleaner, healthier world. Bullfrog’s green electricity comes exclusively from wind and hydro facilities that have been certified as low impact by Environment Canada under its EcoLogoM program instead of from polluting sources like coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear. They do a tremendous job and we’re proud at Miratel to have been working with them since 2007.

Bullfrog Power have now expanded their services to include natural gas for the first time and the partnership with Kraft Canada marks a pilot project in this new field. Bullfrog said they wanted to launch a special trial for a green natural gas product prior to rolling out the service fully to commercial and residential customers later in 2011. Meanwhile Kraft felt that the Dad’s brand of cookie was a perfect candidate as the product is hugely popular and unique to Canada. Dad’s cookies have been made in Ontario since 1929 and are currently manufactured in the company’s Scarborough and Lakeshore bakeries but they’ve never been made like this before. Dino Bianco, president of Kraft Canada added:

“To my knowledge it will certainly be the first large brand of cookie to be carbon-neutral in Canada. They will have the Bullfrog-powered logo on the package, and that will cover 15 million packages a year. It’s quite a substantial impression in the marketplace.”

You can expect to see them in stores next month (April 2011) and being so popular this change in the manufacturing and packaging process not only will make a large environmental difference but will make even more people aware of Bullfrog Power on a daily basis (or however often one tends to eat cookies!). Upgrading the operational procedures in the food industry when it comes to baking, cooking and distribution is another example of just how a continued creative approach to and implementation of CSR principles can demonstrate a company’s commitment to their environmental practices.

If you’re wondering just what constitutes ‘green’ natural gas, Bullfrog will be purchasing naturally occurring methane gas via a large landfill outside of Montréal, Québec. Landfill gas is considered a renewable resource and therefore green fuel as the methane would be produced and then released into the atmosphere via natural decay whether or not we used it, such innovation could be repeated in many locations if the pilot scheme is as successful as hoped. So get out there next month and pick up a few packages of Dad’s cookies!

To learn more about Bullfrog Power please visit their corporate website.
To learn more about Kraft Foods CSR profile please visit their corporate responsibility page:

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