Global warming has become the most pressing environmental issue of this century. The average American is responsible for emitting approximately 20 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. We can combat it in many ways. One is to reduce our own carbon footprint (click here to read about 15 ways to do so). Another way is through carbon sequestration, the process by which atmospheric carbon is captured and absorbed into carbon sinks such as the forests, oceans, and soil.

The World Bank estimates that 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are caused by deforestation. In the United States, more than two million acres of forests, farmland and natural landscapes are lost each year to development. Eight Arms Cellars has decided to donate the money raised through our Go Green Drink Red program to aid in carbon sequestration though programs that preserve, renew and protect our forests and oceans. In our first year, we will produce 300 cases of wine. $1 from each bottle sold will be donated with the sale of 300 cases generating $3,600. As the winery grows, so will the amount that we will donate. The money will be split between three organizations:

The Conservation Fund’s Go Zero Program: This program helps offset carbon dioxide emissions by planting trees. The Conservation Fund plants approximately 300 trees per acre, which will sequester approximately 400 tons of carbon dioxide over 100 years. Since 2000, the Conservation Fund has restored 20,000 acres of forest with six million trees. These trees will capture an estimated 8 million tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere over their lifetime.

The Pacific Forest Trust: Since 1993, the Pacific Forest Trust has been working to preserve, enhance and restore America’s private forests through education, innovation and collaboration. Conservation and good forest management can help reduce the threat of global warming and start to restore balance to the global carbon cycle. The forests of the U.S. Pacific Northwest, especially coastal redwoods and Douglas-firs, have the most capacity for increased carbon sequestration of any in the world. With good stewardship, forests will continue to provide not only carbon sequestration, but wood products and many other benefits, such as fish and wildlife habitat, biodiversity, clean water and recreation opportunities.

Oceana: Founded in 2001, Oceana is an international organization focused solely on oceans. Their teams of marine scientists, economists, lawyers and advocates win specific and concrete policy changes to reduce pollution and to prevent the irreversible collapse of fish populations, marine mammals and other sea life. Oceans absorb much of the carbon dioxide we release and are on the front lines when it comes to climate change. Oceana is working to prevent climate change by addressing a major source of greenhouse gasses that contribute to climate change — air pollution from the shipping industry.

As Eight Arms Cellars does not have its own winery, but rents space in another facility, we do not have control over the carbon footprint of our premises. However, we pledge to do the utmost to reduce our carbon footprint and be as environmentally friendly as possible. As part of this philosophy we have implemented the following practices:

1. Purchase credits through Native Energy to offset our carbon emissions.
   

2. Purchase grapes from vineyards that are either organically or sustainably farmed.
   

3. Support local merchants.
   

4. Use natural cork instead of synthetic stoppers because it is a sustainable, renewable, and biodegradable resource. To learn how corks are being recycled and reused, click here to visit ReCork America’s website.
   

5. Use glass bottles that are manufactured in North America rather then overseas and and that are lighter in weight, so as to reduce the amount of carbon to ship our wine.
   

6. Our printer, Paragon Label is one of the few in the industry that has worked out how to recycle all of the leftover paper after our labels have been printed.
   

7. Reuse, reduce and recycle whenever possible.