Clever Leaves announced on August 29 that it had received the international declaration of carbon neutrality from the 100% Carbon Neutral program. The company thus generates only 16 kilograms of CO2 per kilogram of dried flowers2, while indoor cultivation practices generate up to 2,300 to 5,200 kilograms of CO2.
Clever Leaves representatives say it is the first vertically integrated medical cannabis company in the world to achieve international carbon neutral certification.
“At the heart of our business, we strive to be a sustainable company,” said Andrés Fajardo, CEO of Clever Leaves.
“We are among the first large, vertically integrated medicinal cannabis companies to operate in the newly legal sector, and it is our responsibility to build a sustainable and environmentally friendly industry from the start. We believe there is no better time than now to strengthen our commitment to sustainability and strive to mitigate climate change wherever possible. We take pride in knowing that our flowers and extracts sold worldwide are grown and manufactured in a carbon neutral environment. Furthermore, we believe it will also prove important for our customers, physicians and patients.”
Andrés Fajardo co-founded Clever Leaves in Colombia, leading the development of its first 18 hectares of cultivation and GACP and EU-GMP certified post-harvest facilities, as well as a GMP certified extraction and formulation plant.
Clever Leaves is not done, however, and will adopt passive techniques to harness solar energy and improve waste management practices. This also includes partnerships with local recycling associations, reforestation projects and the integration of rainwater. Thanks to these sustainable practices, the company reuses or recycles more than 50% of its waste.
Reducing the Cannabis Industry’s Carbon Footprint
To produce one kilogram of dried flowers, Clever Leaves only generates 16 kilograms of CO2, whereas traditional “indoor” cultivation methods generate up to 2,300 to 5,200 kilograms of CO2 per kilogram of dried flowers. The company’s energy consumption per kilogram of dried flowers is 62 kilowatt hours, which contrasts sharply with “indoor” use which can reach 5,000 kilowatt hours.
Clever Leaves has operations and investments in the United States, Canada, Colombia and Germany, and recently withdrew from Portugal.
Thanks to the deployment of sustainable practices, the carbon footprint of Clever Leaves amounted to 318 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) for all production operations in 2022. In addition, Clever Leaves has offset its remaining emissions by acquiring international carbon credits and supporting emission reduction projects.
“The fight against climate change requires everyone’s commitment, but especially that of leading companies in their sector. This is why working with Clever Leaves and making it the first Latin American company certified 100% Carbon Neutral® has been a very rewarding experience that strengthens Latin America’s fight against climate change,” said Javier Segura, COO for LATAM of the 100% Carbon Neutral Program®.
Canadian cannabis producer Hexo has also announced its ambition to be carbon neutral in 2021, mainly by offsetting its emissions rather than limiting them. On our side of the Atlantic, the Swiss company Naturalpes was recently certified B-Corp for having met rigorous social and environmental standards that represent its commitment to objectives other than shareholder profit.
