Osprey Draws on Wind Power to Reduce Environmental Footprint

Cortez, CO – August 17, 2010 – Osprey Packs, Inc., a leader in creating top-quality, high-performance, innovative packs to comfortably and efficiently carry gear, is reducing the impact of its greenhouse gas-intensive business activities such as flying and ground shipping by purchasing carbon offsets through the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Through this 12-month agreement, the company will offset an estimated 261.80 Metric Tons of CO2 for its motor freight shipments, as well as tradeshow and international sales meeting travel.

“Osprey team air travel and shipping our packs are necessary for our business, but don’t necessarily have to have a detrimental impact on the environment,” said Sam Mix, outdoor marketing manager at Osprey. “This investment in renewable energy sources helps to offset these activities and reflects the company’s commitment to help protect the wild places our customers explore while wearing our Osprey packs.”

Added Margie Gardner, CEO of Bonneville Environmental Foundation, “By supporting renewable energy, Osprey is helping to reduce greenhouse gas pollution to stop climate change, finance the development of new renewable energy projects, and increase the amount of renewable energy available to power our homes and businesses.”

Bonneville Environmental Foundation is an entrepreneurial non-profit organization which focuses on energy and water solutions to help businesses to take action to reduce their impact on the environment.

This year, Osprey is reducing the environmental impact for the following flying and driving activities from August 2010 to July 2011:
– Osprey International Sales Meeting travel (165.6 metric tonnes)
– Osprey Interbike tradeshow travel (14.6 metric tonnes)
– Osprey Outdoor Retailer Summer and Winter Tradeshow travel (26.89 metric tonnes)
– Osprey Product Motor Freight 2009 (54.66 metric tonnes)

A carbon offset represents the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions equaling one metric ton of carbon dioxide and reduces more than CO2, but also other more potent greenhouse gases such as methane. Companies can calculate how much “dirty” energy they use in kilowatt-hours or the miles they drive and fly and then offset that environmental impact by investing in “clean” renewable energy through the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs) or carbon offsets. The money is used to fund the development of new renewable energy or carbon offsets projects that increases the amount of clean and sustainable energy available on the power grid and reduces the demand for “dirty” energy.


About Osprey
Independent since 1974 and anchored by the design genius of company founder and owner, Mike Pfotenhauer, Osprey Packs has long set the standard for creating innovative, high quality gear carrying equipment. Their collection includes backpacks, pursuit specific packs, hydration packs, active everyday packs, and a full line of travel packs and bags. Located in Cortez, Colorado at the corner of the rugged San Juan Mountains and on the edge of vast sandstone canyon country, this landscape provides a constant inspiration and a superb testing ground for their products. They also maintain a product development office in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ensuring face-to-face relationships and transparency with suppliers. Every Osprey pack ever built reflects the company’s commitment to protect the wild places its customers explore while using Osprey products. For more information about Osprey, visit www.ospreypacks.com.

About BEF
An entrepreneurial nonprofit, Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) is creating a more sustainable future by investing now in clean energy and fresh water. When customers purchase BEF’s independently certified carbon offsets and renewable energy certificates, they support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the development of new renewable energy facilities. Additionally, their purchase supports long-term watershed restoration and renewable energy education for students and communities nationwide because BEF reinvests its net revenue to fund its 10-year Model Watershed and Solar 4R Schools programs. Since its founding in Portland, Ore. in 1998, BEF has been a pioneer in helping people and companies become better stewards of the environment. Visit www.b-e-f.org.

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