A Revealing Carbon Assessment of Brew Dr. Kombucha’s Supply Chain
Challenge
TripleWin Advisory worked with Brew Dr. Kombucha (BDK) to conduct a Scope 3 carbon inventory across its value chain. The company was anticipating their upcoming B Lab re-certification process and had a mind on fulfilling its business commitment to NetZero2030. The company had begun calculating its Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions the year prior and offsetting those totals by purchasing carbon offsets and renewable energy certificates (RECs) through Bonneville Environmental Foundation. The Scope 3 or full value chain analysis of BDK’s GHG emissions was an opportunity to better understand the company’s total environmental impact and to highlight activities and processes in the supply chain that could be optimized, changed or eliminated altogether.
Solutions Delivered
TripleWin’s project team led three detailed meetings at which we defined the purchasing and production facility data to be shared and assessed; walked BDK’s main facility to capture each process in the pre- and post-production phase of product-making, and detailed out specific data requests of the company’s warehousing and distribution partners that were critical to making precise GHG calculations.
Project Learnings
Scope 3 GHG emissions for product manufacturers can account for between 80-90% of corporate emissions. BDK had an understanding that employee commuting and business travel were high emission “categories” for the company. TripleWin gave guidance that often these are red herrings: categories that have high awareness in the public consciousness that fossil fuel combustion by automobile, truck and plane significantly contribute to climate change, but from a total value chain perspective, are important yet small contributors to a company’s MT CO2e totals.
Client Outcomes
TripleWin’s project team led three detailed meetings at which we defined the purchasing and production facility data to be shared and assessed; walked BDK’s main facility to capture each process in the pre- and post-production phase of product-making, and detailed out specific data requests of the company’s warehousing and distribution partners that were critical to making precise GHG calculations.
Experts
TripleWin Advisory is a boutique corporate consultancy focused on circularity solutions for industry. TripleWin offers a suite of tools to support clients in charting a practical, circular and sustainable course for their business. These tools include:
- Carbon inventories and setting science-based and Net Zero carbon goals
- Materiality assessments and sustainability roadmaps
- Building circular business models supported by financial analysis
- Risk scenario models using the TCFD framework
- Workshops and courses to build employee agency and corporate competency
We work with leaders in the following industries: apparel, footwear & textiles; information technology; metals; beauty; food & beverage; healthcare; building construction; human resource management; and retail.
TripleWin Advisory is a woman-founded and woman-led public benefit company headquartered in the state of Oregon.
Two things became very clear to us by the end of 2021: face-to-face events have a truly meaningful impact that can't be fully replicated virtually and thus will continue to play an important role; and there is a real cost in holding these events and the toll it takes on the climate. TripleWin was incredibly knowledgeable, thoughtful and efficient in completing our sustainable events project in a short time frame. We were incredibly happy with the result and look forward to continuing working with them in the future.
Brew Dr. Kombucha began as a tea company in 2006, by Founder Matt Thomas. He began brewing kombucha in the basement. Brew Dr. is B Corp Certified and is constantly working to become as sustainable as possible.
Headquarters:Portland, Oregon
Industry:
Food & Beverage
Main Product:
Kombucha Tea