Colgate enters into agreement to offset carbon emissions

As part of its aggressive push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and advance sustainability, Colgate has signed a 15-year commitment with Patagonia Sur to purchase forestry-based carbon offsets. Under the agreement, a total of 225,000 native-species trees will be planted on 430 acres of land in Chile’s Aysén Region of Patagonia.
The Colgate University Forest, as the land will be known, will meet or exceed global Verified Carbon Standard requirements. Annually, the forest will offset approximately 5,000 tons, or about one-third of Colgate’s present carbon footprint.
The partnership makes Colgate the first of 12 universities that will ultimately comprise Patagonia Sur’s University Conservation Circle.
In addition to carbon offsets, the arrangement also provides Colgate with a research site for Colgate’s students and faculty, as well as a place to collaborate with member universities on research as well as the development of sustainability initiatives.