A Commitment to the Planet
Carbon offsetting with Riverbank Carbon™
At Prana, our commitment to social and environmental impact as a B Corp-certified company means every bite makes a positive difference for people and the planet. In line with this mission, we’re thrilled to announce our new partnership with Riverbank Carbon™ to offset our Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions, taking another step forward in our journey toward sustainability.
Our financial support protects rivers and sequester carbon from the atmosphere, while compensating farmers. How? By afforestation of riparian buffer strips in agricultural areas alongside our precious Quebec waterways and through direct compensation of Québec farmers for their environmental commitment. Through PRANA’s financial support, Riverbank Carbon provides financial compensation to farmers for any loss of production caused by planting new ecosystems along the riverbanks they own.
Why we chose Riverbank Carbon™ to offset our GHG?
As agricultural activities impact our precious waterways through pesticides, phosphorus used in livestock farming, and manure spreading for crops like soy and corn, we, as a food manufacturer closely connected with farmers, feeling a strong responsibility to protect our rivers.
We are committed to supporting initiatives that safeguard water quality while also compensating farmers for their dedication to environmental stewardship. That’s why we chose to support Riverbank Carbon, a standout organization committed to protecting water ecosystems.
PRANA’s investment adds an additional 5 meters of riparian buffer and a complete ecosystem to the 3-meter buffer required by Quebec law.
Expanding Riparian Buffers: A Powerful Investment in Ecosystem Health
Expanding riparian buffers—vegetated areas along waterways—not only enhances the natural landscape but also provides a host of ecological benefits. These include reducing soil erosion, filtering pollutants, improving water quality, supporting biodiversity, providing wildlife habitats, and sequestering carbon, all of which contribute to a healthier, more resilient ecosystem.
Here are six unique benefits of expanded riparian buffers that showcase their powerful impact on our environment:
Pure Rivers
It preserves water quality.
A sufficiently vegetated riverbank near a field helps slow down the flow of water on its way to the river, increasing its infiltration into the soil.
Reinforced Riverbank
Stabilizes the sometimes steep and erosion-prone riverbank, while also acting against erosion caused by the water itself, including ice, floods, and waves.
Literally acting like a sponge, the riverbank needs the root systems of plants to anchor itself to the agricultural land. It also prevents landslides.
Favoring pollinators
Most pollinators do not have hives to complete their life cycle and require tree bark or undisturbed soils for this.
The buffers are therefore ideal habitats for bumblebees, butterflies, hummingbirds, beetles, and others, including honeybees, as the food diversity, such as amino acids, is enhanced in these areas.
They seed nectar-rich herbaceous plants like lotus and clover, in addition to establishing fruit-bearing shrubs.
Increased Biodiversity
It creates a place where a wide variety of plant, animal, amphibian, and aquatic species thrive.
Pur Air
Deciduous trees and plant branches act as filters, capturing airborne aerosols and gaseous emissions on their leaves.
Softened wind
Trees are excellent barriers against excessive winds. Less wind provides significant and varied benefits, such as the creation of microclimates, the retention of arable land, the maintenance of plant evapotranspiration, and the increase of protective snow cover on crops.
At Prana, each initiative we embrace aims to create ripples of positive change in our local and global environment. We believe that together, we can cultivate a brighter, healthier, and more sustainable future.
Join us on this eco-adventure, where every small step makes a grand difference. To learn more about Carbone Riverain please visit www.carboneriverain.org
Riverbank Carbon, a carbon offsetting program signed by Arbre-Évolution
Who is Arbre-Évolution?
Arbre-Évolution is a solidarity Coop dedicated to ecological and social reforestation. Specialize in carbon technologies and agroforestry for the past 10 years, they have implemented more than 300 projects across Québec. Their many collaborations with research centres and scientific institutes have enabled the organization to develop innovative, nature-based compensatory solutions. Riverbank Carbon™ is the latest CO2 sequestration program they have designed for businesses that are committed to tackling climate change.
We’re also excited to share that Carbone Riverain uses 100% biodegradable plant-based plastic mulch, an innovation that crowns them as pioneers in Quebec!
Discover more about our Carbon Offsetting initiative : arbre évolution
© Photo credit: Carbone riverain