What We Do

While there are many ways to give back to and conserve our environment, leading by example and walking our talk has always seemed natural. We are constantly looking at new ways to build products and improve processes to lessen our footprint. We still have a long way to go, but a handful of our efforts are below.

GEAR

Icon headlamp & Apollo lantern with NRG rechargeble power: Both lights can utilize our NRG rechargeable kit (sold separately).

Orbit lantern with NRG 2: Our smallest lantern, the Orbit is also compatible with an optional rechargeable system, the NRG 2.

Sprinter rechargeable headlamp – Coming in November 2009!

PROCESS/RECYCLING

During the baseline year, Black Diamond and Waste Management recycled an estimated 235 tons of Black Diamond’s waste, or approximately 60% of the organization’s total solid waste stream. This included approximately 138 tons of cardboard, 43 tons of metals, 28 tons of paper, 26 tons of plastics and 1,776 lbs of computer waste. This recycling effort amounted to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 510 tons CO2e, which is roughly equivalent to not driving 720,000 miles each year.

Additionally, Black Diamond boils off water from oil/water mixes from production and sends the oil out to be recycled. Wood pallets are reused internally as much as possible, and then no longer usable are often made accessible to employees for firewood. In 2009, we will initiate a closed-loop anodization process at Black Diamond Asia. This will be the first of it’s kind in Asia and a dramatic improvement over traditional anodization practices.

During its headquarters remodel, Black Diamond purchased carpet through Interface’s “Cool Carpet” program. In this program, Interface purchases and retires carbon credits to offset all greenhouse gas emissions associated with the entire lifecycle of the carpet. Black Diamond’s purchased cardboard contains an average of 35% post-consumer recycled material, which preserves approximately 370 trees from being cut down.

ENERGY

We routinely work to keep our equipment well maintained and to reduce energy use where possible. Our headquarters facility has engaged in a series of energy efficiency projects, including:

• Duro-Last roofing: reduces cooling loads by reflecting 86% of the sun’s energy;

additionally this roofing is manufactured with virtually no landfill waste and installation does not require fume-emitting spraying equipment

• Installation of T8 lighting: saves an estimated 68% of energy used by replaced lighting

• Installation of motion sensor light switches in storage areas and restrooms

• Replacement of HVAC units with high efficient units: electricity draw of each unit reduced from 60 amps to 30 amps

• Newly expanded & renovated 12,000 square feet of space in SLC Headquarters is extremely energy efficient -- if this expansion/renovation was a free standing building it would qualify for the lower level of LEED Certification. It will draw an absurdly low level of power & water and was constructed with many recycled and new high tech super insulative materials.

In addition to our energy efficiency projects, we are a Blue Sky Program “Champion” level participant, purchasing 180,000 kWh of Blue Sky wind power offsets each year. 20% of our HQ and SLC manufacturing’s power is wind generated, which is significant for a real manufacturing operation with Laser cutters, tons of CNCs, EDM wire cutters, big automated equipment, heat treating, etc. We also have a  2,200 Watt solar photovoltaic system that generates approximately 3,000 kWh of electricity each year, supplying roughly 7% of the retail store’s electricity needs. All together, our energy conservation and renewable energy efforts amount to eliminating over 220 tons of CO2e greenhouse gas emissions annually, which is equivalent to not driving over 320,000 miles each year.

TRANSPORTATION

Black Diamond employees commuted an estimated 410,000 miles via carpool, bus, TRAX, bicycle and foot during the baseline year, or approximately 34% of the year’s total commute miles. These actions reduced greenhouse gasses by an estimated 190 tons CO2e.

So far this year, Team Black Diamond has eliminated 1259 trips and 8659 miles as part of the Clean Air Challenge in Salt Lake City, UT. Check out the latest at cleartheairchallenge.com

Lastly, in January 2009, we opened our BD Asia global distribution center. This large 70,000 square foot facility is attached to our manufacturing and offices and is already allowing us to aggregate the shipping of all of the BD goods we make ourselves along with what we make in our contract factories. This means less shipments, greater efficiency, higher inventory turns and is a blessing for our global distributors as well as key retailers. It also greatly lessens the size of our global shipping energy footprint.

ACTIVISM

In addition to the Groups We Support, BD employees also have a strong tradition of personal involvement in broader Outdoor Industry, local, regional and national efforts related to conservation. A few of our favorite ticks/groups are below:

Outdoor Industry Associations Environmental Working Group: The mission is to “take a leadership role to develop environmental impact evaluation tools, programs, education and communication to stakeholders and consumers that will direct product life cycle and informed purchasing decisions.

Roadless Protection in Utah: Along with the Outdoor Industry, BD lobbied Governor Huntsmen of Utah to not file his draft petition in regards to the Forest Service Roadless Rule. The draft petition would have removed the protection from road building that these virgin lands had and replaced it with a local decision making process where surely the protections would have lost. The governor responded to our arguments that the roadless rule protected these last areas as critical wildlife habitat and watershed as well as wildland recreational areas for our backcountry customers.

Preservation of Wilderness in Washington County: Again working with the OIA, BD took up the fight on against legislation that threatened Utah Wilderness areas. This bill had a huge amount of momentum and consensus support by the Utah congressional delegation. The Outdoor Industry Association played a critical role as both a respected Utah economic contributor and as a national organization.

Governor Jim Huntsman joins the Western Governors Global Warming initiative: Black Diamond, along with the mayors of SLC, Park City, Moab and Salt Lake  County were the first to meet with Governor Huntsman on this and urge him to form a task force to participate Suffice to say, he went fm zero to 60 in 10 months in becoming a progressive western governor who could speak knowledgably on the subject and wanted to be a part of the solution.