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Nicole Sullivan

Nicole Sullivan

Director of Climate Services

Nicole is the Director of Climate Services for CarbonBetter, with 12 years of environmental and sustainability experience.

As an Environmental Engineer, Nicole has an extensive background in environmental and sustainability consulting, and voluntary and mandatory air quality and greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting. Over the last ten years, she has provided strategic consulting services within a range of industry sectors, including petrochemical, oil and gas, railroad, and manufacturing.

Her GHG reporting experience includes supporting multiple confidential oil and gas majors and assets in the upstream and midstream oil and gas industry segments in complying with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) mandatory GHG reporting requirements, while simultaneously supporting corporate and voluntary GHG reporting efforts and helping clients to evaluate GHG reduction opportunities. She also has experience selecting and implementing GHG metrics software applications, including Enablon and Cority.

Her experience with energy management includes conducting energy assessments in accordance with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 50001 energy management standard, and the EPA’s Boiler Maximum Available Control Technology (Boiler MACT) requirements. She has completed energy baselines and full energy assessments, performing calculations to quantify energy savings and return on investment analyses of proposed energy savings opportunities.

Nicole also has experience with climate protocol development. She supported the US National Park Service in developing desert spring sampling protocols to annually monitor springs in the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts and determine the impacts of climate change on spring systems. This included protocols to integrate weather monitoring systems into existing sampling plans to identify correlations between weather patterns and animal populations in desert areas near the United States and Mexico border in Arizona.

Nicole holds a MS in Environmental Engineering and a BS in Civil Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. She is originally from Georgia and enjoys spending her free time outdoors: playing tennis, swimming in Barton Springs, and exploring hiking and mountain biking trails throughout Texas.

Recent Posts from Nicole Sullivan

Carbon Insetting vs. Offsetting
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Carbon Insetting vs. Offsetting

Learn the difference between carbon insetting and offsetting and how to incorporate both into your carbon reduction strategy.

Should You Be Stressed About Water Stress?
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Should You Be Stressed About Water Stress?

Discover the critical implications of water stress on businesses and society, what's being done about it, and how CarbonBetter can help you.

Inside the United Nations’ (UN) Definition of Carbon Removal
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Inside the United Nations’ (UN) Definition of Carbon Removal

A look at the UN's take on carbon removal and its expected redefinition at the upcoming COP28, which could affect sustainability efforts worldwide.

Engaging with Employees & Stakeholders in Sustainability
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Engaging with Employees & Stakeholders in Sustainability

Learn practical steps to foster a culture of active participation in your company's sustainability initiatives.

How Everyone Is a Sustainability Stakeholder
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How Everyone Is a Sustainability Stakeholder

How every department in a business contributes to sustainability, from leadership's role in setting the direction to the importance of forming external relationships when addressing Scope 3 emissions.

Using Materiality Assessments to Unlock Environmental Priorities
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Using Materiality Assessments to Unlock Environmental Priorities

Materiality's role in identifying key environmental concerns within business operations and the benefits of partnering with suppliers to drive sustainable change.

The IFRS S1 & S2 Standards Align with TCFD’s Recommendations
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The IFRS S1 & S2 Standards Align with TCFD’s Recommendations

Explore the alignment of ISSB's IFRS S1 & S2 standards with TCFD's recommendations. The post sheds light on the nuanced shifts in sustainability disclosures and their significance in the global financial landscape.

The Alphabet Soup of Sustainability
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The Alphabet Soup of Sustainability

Your guide to the alphabet soup of ESG and sustainability terms—with definitions and context to help you understand each term.

A Sustainability Regulatory Roadmap for US Businesses
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A Sustainability Regulatory Roadmap for US Businesses

A starting guide to sustainability regulations from 2021-2028. Discover the key milestones and how CarbonBetter supports businesses in navigating this landscape.

Project Feature: Eritrea Community Boreholes Project
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Project Feature: Eritrea Community Boreholes Project

Explore the transformative impact of the Eritrea Community Boreholes Project, which not only reduces carbon emissions but also ensures access to safe water, supports local communities, and contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Convenient Fantasies About Plastic
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Convenient Fantasies About Plastic

From convenient fantasies to harsh realities, this post unravels the truth about plastic waste and highlights how Dr. Bronner's is leading the way in plastic waste management.

An Overview of “Materiality” in Sustainability
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An Overview of “Materiality” in Sustainability

Learn how to identify and assess the environmental issues that are most significant for your business and stakeholders.

Biodiversity’s Role In Sustainability
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Biodiversity’s Role In Sustainability

Uncover the link between biodiversity and business sustainability, the implications of biodiversity loss, and how businesses can take action to protect biodiversity in our latest blog post.

An Introduction to Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Standards
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An Introduction to Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Standards

Learn the importance of the Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Standards in delivering credible carbon offset projects and supporting your brand's sustainability goals.

Ways to Reduce Scope 3 Emissions
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Ways to Reduce Scope 3 Emissions

Learn strategies to manage your organization's Scope 3 emissions effectively by optimizing its supply chain & logistics, and by building sustainable partnerships. Included are real-world examples from companies like Microsoft, BeatBox, and Siemens on their journey toward carbon neutrality.

Common Greenwashing Terms & Examples
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Common Greenwashing Terms & Examples

Learn about new and emerging greenwashing tactics, including strategies to help you avoid making misleading environmental claims for your organization.

What Are Scope 3 Emissions?
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What Are Scope 3 Emissions?

Unpacking Scope 3 carbon emissions by first defining what Scope 3 emissions are, with examples, then sharing three ways to manage these indirect emissions.

Ask Us Anything Webinar Recap
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Ask Us Anything Webinar Recap

Key takeaways from our recent Q&A webinar with our Director of Climate Services, Nicole Sullivan.

An Overview of the FTC’s Green Guides
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An Overview of the FTC’s Green Guides

Learn the art of ethical marketing and storytelling with guidance from the FTC's Green Guides and our expert climate services team.

Sustainability Reporting Frameworks, Standards, and Protocols: A Complete Guide
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Sustainability Reporting Frameworks, Standards, and Protocols: A Complete Guide

A guide to understanding the sustainability reporting ecosystem used for voluntary disclosures, as well as relevant regulations.

Earth Day 2023 Impacts Report
Sustainability Reports

Earth Day 2023 Impacts Report

Our goal for this day of climate action is to show that small steps by many add up to a big positive impact.

Fierce Whiskers Distillery 2022 Sustainability Report
Sustainability Reports

Fierce Whiskers Distillery 2022 Sustainability Report

Fierce Whiskers is a minority-owned American bourbon distillery, focused on quality and sustainability from grain to glass. As of its 2022 report, Scope 3 emissions have been included.

How to Make Progress Toward Your Sustainability Goals
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How to Make Progress Toward Your Sustainability Goals

Outlining actionable steps for businesses to achieve sustainability targets through continuous progress, strategic milestones, and timely adaptation.

Criteria for High-Quality Carbon Credits
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Criteria for High-Quality Carbon Credits

Comparing rating systems vs. protocols and defining top criteria to empower businesses with the knowledge to assess high-quality carbon credits.

Fierce Whiskers Releases Carbon-Neutral Smoke + Mash Volume 1
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Fierce Whiskers Releases Carbon-Neutral Smoke + Mash Volume 1

In its first rye whiskey release, Fierce Whiskers has 454 bottles carbon-neutral bottles from barrels 255 and 270 ready to go.

Permanence Considerations When Buying Carbon Credits
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Permanence Considerations When Buying Carbon Credits

Defining permanence, including how it’s measured, and how to balance permanence with other considerations and co-benefits when buying carbon credits.

How to Implement Carbon Accounting Software Effectively—And Do You Even Need It?
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How to Implement Carbon Accounting Software Effectively—And Do You Even Need It?

Carbon accounting software is not right for every business, but here's how to implement it effectively when it is necessary to use.

Sustainability Consulting Confusion
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Sustainability Consulting Confusion

What to look for when hiring a sustainability consulting firm for your business, and how CarbonBetter is different.

Can You Trust Your Carbon Accounting Data?
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Can You Trust Your Carbon Accounting Data?

How to ensure your organization's data is accurate and reliable, and avoid the risks associated with bad data.

Carbon Emissions Intensity Explained
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Carbon Emissions Intensity Explained

The metric that will give context to your total emissions as your business and carbon footprint both expand.

SEC Climate Disclosure Rule: What’s in It?
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SEC Climate Disclosure Rule: What’s in It?

A new SEC rule would require “consistent, comparable, and reliable” disclosure of climate-related risks and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from public companies.

CarbonBetter Certified Offset (CBCO) Portfolios vs. Bespoke Carbon Offset Sourcing
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CarbonBetter Certified Offset (CBCO) Portfolios vs. Bespoke Carbon Offset Sourcing

Between our CarbonBetter Carbon Offset (CBCO) Portfolios and our bespoke carbon offset service, our team of carbon market experts can help you find the right solution for your business.

Central Machine Works Announces Green Collar Beer Is Now Carbon Negative
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Central Machine Works Announces Green Collar Beer Is Now Carbon Negative

In November 2022, Central Machine Works (CMW) Brewery in East Austin brewed the Green Collar Beer, a west coast style IPA dry hopped with Strata, Lorien, and Chinook hops from Indie Hop farms located in Oregon. All 3,151 pours of Green Collar beer at the CMW taproom are carbon negative and benefit the Save Our Spring Alliance.

Preparing For Possible New SEC Climate-Related Regulations
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Preparing For Possible New SEC Climate-Related Regulations

Public companies may soon be required to report on climate-related risks and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Here’s how to prepare.

Preparing for Potential Climate-Related Disclosure Requirements
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Preparing for Potential Climate-Related Disclosure Requirements

Federal suppliers may face new requirements, and it's not too early to prepare. In this post, we navigate the complexities organizations face with the proposed new federal climate-related disclosure rule, and what you can do to prepare for if/when it goes into effect.

Proposed New Emissions Disclosure Requirements for Over 5,000 US Businesses
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Proposed New Emissions Disclosure Requirements for Over 5,000 US Businesses

The US government has issued a proposed new rule that would require most government suppliers to disclose carbon emissions.

Sustainability Software vs. Spreadsheets
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Sustainability Software vs. Spreadsheets

Sustainability software can help you quantify your carbon emissions, but you still need expertise to get it right.

What Is Blue Carbon?
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What Is Blue Carbon?

With coastal blue carbon habitats sequestering carbon at a rate 10 times greater than terrestrial forests, blue carbon ecosystems play an essential role in mitigating climate change and improving human well-being. So, what exactly is blue carbon?

Edition #15 | Environment Forward
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Edition #15 | Environment Forward

Welcome to Edition 15 of Environment Forward. Energy and metals transitions, cow burps, recyclability, and running shoes.

Why Is It So Hard to Buy Carbon Credits?
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Why Is It So Hard to Buy Carbon Credits?

Navigating the carbon market can be unnecessarily complex and opaque without the right support. Here's why.

Fierce Whiskers Launches World’s First Carbon-Negative Bourbon
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Fierce Whiskers Launches World’s First Carbon-Negative Bourbon

The Austin distillery Fierce Whiskers is releasing 257 carbon-negative bottles of Five O’Clock Shadow from Barrel #47 in a limited release.

Phlogiston Phase I N2O Abatement
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Phlogiston Phase I N2O Abatement

Included in CBCO 22-1, Phlogiston Phase I project was designed to destroy N2O byproducts during the nylon manufacturing process so the GHG is not emitted into the atmosphere. Co-benefits of the project include reduced N2O pollution and GHG emissions into the atmosphere as well as overall improved air and water pollution and ozone recovery.

Sustainability Reporting White Paper
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Sustainability Reporting White Paper

Sustainability reporting serves as a valuable tool to achieve corporate commitments and better manage climate-related business risks. This white paper walks you through what's typically included and what should be considered.

What is the Carbon Market? Podcast with Nicole Sullivan
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What is the Carbon Market? Podcast with Nicole Sullivan

Last month our very own Nicole Sullivan, Director of Climate Services at CarbonBetter, joined Joe Batir of the Energy Transition Solutions podcast for an hour-long conversation about the carbon markets. Listen now or read the highlights.

Manantiales Behr Wind Farm
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Manantiales Behr Wind Farm

Included in CBCO 22-1, the 99-megawatt Manantiales Behr Wind Farm carbon offset project is helping Argentina reach a target of 20% non-hydro renewables by 2025.

Edition #14 | Environment Forward
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Edition #14 | Environment Forward

Welcome to Edition 14 of Environment Forward. In this edition, we’re looking at podcasts, nature sounds, private jets, and climate legislation.

Raura Hydro Electric Power Project
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Raura Hydro Electric Power Project

The MW Raura Hydro Project provides clean energy to northern India by harnessing renewable electricity from a small, run-of-river hydroelectric power plant, minimizing both the overall environmental impact of the dam and the amount of fossil fuels needed to supply the regional grid.

Geography Considerations When Buying Carbon Credits
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Geography Considerations When Buying Carbon Credits

When buying carbon credits, geography matters—here are three key considerations.

Carbon Offset Registries: An Overview
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Carbon Offset Registries: An Overview

An overview of the role carbon offset registries play in the carbon market, and why they matter.

Edition #13 | Environment Forward
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Edition #13 | Environment Forward

Welcome to Edition 13 of Environment Forward. In this edition, we’re looking at climate-driven disease, Gmail's carbon footprint, agrivoltaics, and a plastic ban in Canada.

Important Considerations for Carbon Offset Vintages
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Important Considerations for Carbon Offset Vintages

Understanding carbon offset vintages is important for choosing the right offsets.

BeatBox Sustainability Report
Sustainability Reports

BeatBox Sustainability Report

Beatbox Beverages is the fastest-selling ready-to-drink cocktail and wine brand in the United States—and they're on the path to becoming the most sustainable, too.

A Primer on Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)
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A Primer on Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)

Is renewable natural gas an ideal alternative fuel for a carbon-neutral future?

Edition #12 | Environment Forward
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Edition #12 | Environment Forward

Welcome to Edition 12 of Environment Forward. In this edition, we’re looking at renewable energy records, plastic eating worms, regenerative agriculture, and recycling solar panels.

Plastic Waste Challenges
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Plastic Waste Challenges

Plastic use creates a double-edged problem of reliance on fossil fuels and mountains of trash. What's the solution?

What does it mean to be carbon-free? | Change the Conversation
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What does it mean to be carbon-free? | Change the Conversation

I champion anyone working to reduce their carbon impacts. But what does it mean to be carbon-free?

Edition #11 | Environment Forward
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Edition #11 | Environment Forward

Welcome to Edition 11 of Environment Forward. Come explore lab-grown leather, the decline of lichens, blockchain for farmers, and plastic recycling.

Earth Day Austin 2022 Impacts Report
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Earth Day Austin 2022 Impacts Report

Our goal for this day of climate action is to show that small steps by many add up to a big positive impact.

Edition #10 | Environment Forward
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Edition #10 | Environment Forward

Welcome to Edition 10 of Environment Forward. In this edition, we’re looking at everything from toothpaste tubes to pints of Guinness with some TikTok thrown in.

Meet Nicole, Director of Climate Services
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Meet Nicole, Director of Climate Services

Meet Nicole, CarbonBetter's Climate Services manager. She joined our team to launch our climate practice and she tirelessly and expertly helps companies navigate the complexities of sustainability and decarbonization.

Edition #9 | Environment Forward
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Edition #9 | Environment Forward

Welcome to Edition 9 of Environment Forward – we’re only a month into 2022 and there has been no shortage of climate news. Here at CarbonBetter, we’re actively preparing to speak at SXSW here in Austin on March 16, 2022, but in the meantime, I’ve been doing a lot of reading.

Your First Sustainability Report
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Your First Sustainability Report

What's next once you have a plan to do your first sustainability report? The right reporting partner will help you gather data, prioritize calculations, and ensure accuracy.

Edition #8 | Environment Forward
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Edition #8 | Environment Forward

Welcome to Edition 8 of Environment Forward and the first of 2022! In this edition we look back at extreme weather in 2021, share some EV humor, ponder some thoughtful ESG questions, and explore how to spot greenwashing.

Edition #7 | Environment Forward
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Edition #7 | Environment Forward

Happiest of holidays to our team, clients, and friends! In this 7th edition of Environment Forward, we explore quick charge batteries, cargo ship kites, hemp concrete, and pop music.

Edition #6 | Environment Forward
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Edition #6 | Environment Forward

In this 6th Edition of Environment Forward we're exploring both innovations and challenges when it comes to food sustainability.

Zero Waste vs 1% Better
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Zero Waste vs 1% Better

The challenge of "zero waste" should not stop us from trying. Most people don't realize how powerful aiming for just 1% improvement can be.

Edition #5 | Environment Forward
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Edition #5 | Environment Forward

Happy Thanksgiving week, friends. Welcome to the 5th Edition of Environment Forward. In this edition, we explore regenerative turkeys, COP26 outcomes, shopping, and trash cleanup.

Edition #4 | Environment Forward
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Edition #4 | Environment Forward

Welcome to the 4th Edition of Environment Forward. In this edition, we explore what's happening at COP26, missing seafood, reducing our waste, and some good climate news.

Provision Retail Energy Sustainability Report
Sustainability Reports

Provision Retail Energy Sustainability Report

Provision helps customers make a positive environmental impact through certified CarbonBetter energy plans that include 100% clean energy and planting trees. Learn more about this innovative business model in this case study.

Edition #3 | Environment Forward
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Edition #3 | Environment Forward

Welcome to the 3rd Edition of Environment Forward. In this edition, we explore decarbonized Google searches, regenerated fashion, climate tech, and electric vehicle trends.

Edition #2 | Environment Forward
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Edition #2 | Environment Forward

Welcome to the 2nd Edition of Environment Forward. Here are the things that I've been reading (and watching) over the last couple of weeks that have left me feeling both motivated and inspired.

Edition #1 | Environment Forward
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Edition #1 | Environment Forward

In this new bi-weekly series called Environment Forward, Climate Services Manager Nicole Sullivan shares her perspective on news she's following in the ever-changing and fast-paced world of sustainability.

An Old Church Gets a New Life as CarbonBetter HQ
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An Old Church Gets a New Life as CarbonBetter HQ

While repurposing an old building was an important start on our path to create a lower impact headquarters, we also made significant efforts to reduce our impact, including salvaged wood desks and using the original foundation.

OKO Forests Agroforestry Case Study
Sustainability Reports

OKO Forests Agroforestry Case Study

OKO Forests is located in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. OKO began as a reforestation project, creating a buffer zone adjacent to the Kogyae Strict Nature Reserve (KSNR). The project protects and enhances biodiversity while creating sustainability socioeconomic benefits from nearby communities.