Thanksgiving Coffee Company - Environmental Sustainability

Thanksgiving Coffee's Use of Biodiesel:

We have taken various measures here at Thanksgiving Coffee to reduce our carbon emissions; through initiatives that reduce our daily output such as using energy-efficient lighting throughout our facilities, to our carbon sequestration project in which we are planting over 70,000 trees in Ethiopia to offset the emissions that are produced in our day-to-day operations.

When we made the decision to fuel our delivery trucks with biodiesel, a clean-burning alternative fuel made from soy or vegetable oil, it was partially inspired by the desire to even further reduce our carbon emissions. However, given that petroleum industry interests have influenced world politics for decades and have left countries socially, economically, and environmentally devastated in their wake, switching to biodiesel was the natural choice for Thanksgiving Coffee in withdrawing our consent from supporting such an industry.

Rudolf Diesel originally designed the diesel engine to run on vegetable-based oils with the added benefit of developing agriculture in the areas in which it was produced. The diesel engine design has since been modified--or appropriated--in order for it to support petroleum-based 'diesel' fuel.

Biodiesel can be made from either recycled or virgin vegetable oils produced from domestic renewable resources. It's use has the potential to provide a profitable crop for our nation's farmers.

We're grateful that the option to use biodiesel is even available to us, thanks to Yokayo Biofuels of Ukiah. Less than a year old, this company has inspired over 150 Mendocino County residents to make the switch to biodiesel for transporation, generators, and water heaters. It just goes to show that once people are presented with options that enable socially and environmentally-responsible decisions, positive changes are bound to ensue.

Considering that biodiesel is presently about fifty cents more per gallon than petro-diesel, as a business, Thanksgiving Coffee had to make this a cost-effective effort. Funding opportunities were investigated on the national and state levels, only to find that public and government agencies were the only eligible recipients. Finally, on a lead from a state agency contact, we learned that resources were available through our county Air Quality Management District (AQMD) under AB 2766 to fund ANY project that would decrease emissions within that particular AQMD.

We applied for the grant and received the funds necessary to subsidize the difference in cost between using biodiesel and petro-diesel for 2003.

WHAT IS BIODIESEL?

Biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel produced from domestic renewable resources, usually soybeans. Using biodiesel eliminates dependence on foreign oil along with the environmental and social impacts associated with using it.

HOW IS BIODIESEL MADE?

Biodiesel fuel can be made from new or used vegetable oils and animal fats, which are non-toxic, biodegradable, renewable resources. Fats and oils react with alcohol (methanol is the usual choice) to produce chemical compounds known as fatty acid methyl esters. Biodiesel is the name given to these esters when they're intended for use as fuel. Glycerol is produced as a by-product, which can be made into soap, cosmetic products, and pharmaceuticals.

WHY USE BIODIESEL?

• Biodiesel is the most cost-effective alternative fuel available, as it requires no engine modifications or special parts. It can simply be put into the fuel tank of a diesel engine as-is. It can also be mixed with regular petrodiesel.

• It is also the safest of alternative fuels, as it has a very high flash point.

• The use of biodiesel significantly reduces the amount of emissions that contribute to ozone and smog. These emissions also cause acid rain, cancer, and respiratory diseases. It is ten times less toxic than table salt and biodegrades as fast as sugar.

• Biodiesel has 80% less carbon dioxide emissions than petrodiesel.

• Carbon monoxide emissions are an average 44% lower than petrodiesel.

• When using pure biodiesel (B100), the cancer risk of diesel exhaust is reduced by 94%, and by 27% when using a biodiesel blend (B20-20% biodiesel, 80% petroleum-based diesel).

• The smog-forming potential is nearly 50% less than petroleum-based diesel.

• For every one unit needed to produce biodiesel, 3.24 units of energy are gained-the highest energy balance of any fuel.

• The scent has been compared to that of popcorn and french fries.

Biodiesel is the first and only alternative fuel to have a complete an evaluation of emission results and potential health effects submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clean Air Act Section 211(b). A survey of the results, averaged with other major studies, is provided in the table below.

AVERAGE BIODIESEL EMISSIONS COMPARED TO CONVENTIONAL DIESEL

Emission Type:	B100	B20
Regulated:
Total Unburned Hydrocarbons	-68%	-14%
Carbon Monoxide	-44%	-9%
Particulate Matter	-40%	-8%
NOx	+6%	+1%
Non-Regulated:
Sulfates	-100%	-20%
PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)**	-80%	-13%
nPAH (nitrated PAH's)**	-90%	-50%
Ozone potential of speciated HC	-50%	-10%

EFFECT ON ENGINE:

• Engines that run on biodiesel generally idle more smoothly and accelerate more smoothly than with petroleum-based diesel.

• Has significantly higher lubricity than petrodiesel, which extends engine life.

• The brands of biodiesel that are commercially available are ASTM certified (ASTM is a non-profit standard development organization).

• Keeps injectors, fuel pumps, and lines clean.

• It is recommended that fuel lines be flushed to eliminate sediment, and fuel filters should be changed frequently at the beginning. For pre-1986 vehicles, rubber fuel hoses may need to be replaced with modern synthetic ones.

• Due to its solvent properties, painted surfaces should be wiped clean of biodiesel.

THANKSGIVING COFFEE FIRST PRIVATE FLEET IN CALIFORNIA TO USE 100% BIODIESEL IN DELIVERY OPERATIONS

Ft. Bragg, CA -- Motorists will soon notice an aroma of french fries on northern California's highways. It won't be coming from a roadside fast food chain, but from Thanksgiving Coffee Company's delivery trucks. The fleet will be running on biodiesel, an alternative fuel made from vegetable oil that greatly reduces harmful emissions.

Thanksgiving Coffee is a socially and environmentally responsible coffee roaster that has taken a big step in further reducing the impacts its operations have on the planet. The company applied for and was granted AB 2766 funds-also known as the Transportation Fund for Clean Air-to offset the difference in cost in fueling its fleet with biodiesel rather than petroleum diesel. These resources are allotted to county Air Quality Management Districts by the State Department of Motor Vehicles in order to finance projects that reduce emissions within those districts.

Though more than 200 public and government agencies currently use biodiesel, Thanksgiving Coffee is the first private fleet in the state of California to use B100-pure biodiesel- in its delivery operations, and joins only a handful of private fleets nationwide using the fuel.

"We think it's wonderful to see a private company like this taking a proactive approach in protecting the environment while contributing to our economy and domestic energy security," said Bob Metz, president of the National Biodiesel Board, the non-profit trade association for the biodiesel industry.

Biodiesel is made from renewable resources like new or used vegetable oils or animal fats. It is non-toxic, biodegradable, and can be used in any diesel engine. Harmful carbon dioxide emissions are reduced by 80%, and carbon monoxide emissions are an average 44% lower than those of petroleum diesel. When using pure biodiesel, the cancer risk of diesel exhaust is reduced by 90%, and the smog-forming potential is nearly 50% less than petroleum diesel.

Yokayo Biofuels, located in Ukiah, will make regular deliveries of biodiesel to the Thanksgiving Coffee facilities in Ft. Bragg, where the trucks will fuel up before departing for their delivery routes. A network of biodiesel fueling stations in northern California will provide the fleet with the fuel on the road, though it can be blended with regular petroleum diesel if biodiesel is not available.

Thanksgiving Coffee Company strives to mitigate the environmental impacts their business has on the planet, and this is not the first time they have taken measures to offset greenhouse gases. In 2001, they financed an assessment by the non-profit Trees for the Future to determine carbon emissions produced in the processing, delivery, and consumption of Thanksgiving Coffee, and is planting about 75,000 trees in Ethiopia-the birthplace of coffee-to alleviate those effects.

If you would like more information about Thanksgiving Coffee or the biodiesel project, please contact Johanna Schultz, director of environmental and social policy, at 707-964-0118 ext. 30, or jschultz@thanksgivingcoffee.com. Chris Brown of the Mendocino Air Quality Management District is also available for comment: 707-463-4354 or browncd@co.mendocino.ca.us

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