Check out our progress-to-date along our sustainability journey…
2020:
- Clif Bar joins the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Global Commitment to Packaging with Purpose and pledges that all Clif Bar packaging will be reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.
- Clif Bar Baking Company of Twin Falls, Idaho achieves LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. The bakery is recognized for its innovative and sustainable design that features energy and water efficiency, recycled and natural materials, biophilic design and on-site renewable energy from a 2 MW solar array.
2019:
- Clif Bar installs an onsite solar power system at its bakery in Twin Falls, Idaho. The two-megawatt solar farm provides 30% of the bakery’s power annually from clean solar energy. The farm also includes five acres of ground-mounted solar panels with native, flowering plants to provide habitat for local bees, butterflies, birds and other pollinators.
- The Clif Bar Baking Company of Twin Falls becomes a research site for InSPIRE, a national research project led by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to study and maximize the economic and environmental benefits of combining solar and pollinator habitat.
- Clif Bar completes an expanded redesign of its LEED certified bakery in Indianapolis. The expansion features biophilic design with an open and collaborative space, large windows for natural light and EV charging stations.
2018:
- Clif Bar reached a milestone on its organic journey, sourcing one billion pounds of organic ingredients sourced since 2003. That means ingredients grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers and toxic pesticides.
- Clif Bar received the award for Outstanding Influencer from the Climate Collaborative in recognition of the company's work on organic research, advocacy, transportation, and renewable energy.
- Clif Bar bakery in Twin Falls, Idaho is recognized as a Pollution Prevention Champion by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality for its successful efforts to reduce waste and improve sustainability.
- Clif Bar joined EV100 a global initiative aimed at accelerating the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and making electric transportation the new normal by 2030. For Clif, this commitment includes incentivizing employees to purchase electric vehicles and commuter bikes, installing EV charging infrastructure at all our facilities, and transitioning our fleet to all plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles by 2030.
- Clif Bar received the Rabobank Award for Leader in Sustainability. The award recognizes a deep commitment to sustainability as a part of Clif Bar’s core strategy across the business. Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford accepted the award at Rabobank’s annual Food & Agribusiness Summit in New York City.
2017:
- Clif Bar joined RE100 and committed to maintaining 100% green power through 2030. RE100 is an initiative that brings together businesses committed to 100% renewable electricity and accelerating towards zero carbon grids.
- The U.S. EPA named Clif Bar & Company a 2017 Climate Leader for its efforts to promote climate action and green power across the supply chain.
- Clif Bar signed the We are Still In Letter, along with 2,300+ businesses, cities, states, and universities committed to climate action and to the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement.
- Clif Bar surpassed 100,000 trees planted in partnership with American Forests ReLeaf program.
- Elysa Hammond, Clif Bar’s V.P. of Environmental Stewardship, was chosen as one of the Top 50 Environmental Leaders.
- Clif Bar is awarded two 2017 Green Power Leadership Awards for Leadership in Green Power Education and Excellence in Green Power Use. These awards recognize Clif Bar’s use of green power, its market impact and effective and unique programs and efforts to boost interest in renewable energy.
2016:
- Clif Bar Baking Company of Twin Falls, Idaho, was awarded Food Processing's 7th Annual Green Plant of the Year award, and Food Engineering’s Sustainable Plant of the Year Award for consideration of energy efficiency, alternative sources of energy, reduced pollution and water usage, and innovative green design and going “above and beyond industry standards” in prioritizing sustainability and employee well-being.
2015:
- Clif Bar spearheaded the creation of the country's first endowed university chair in organic plant breeding for the University of Wisconsin/Madison. Our goal is to endow a total of five chairs for organic research at public land-grant universities.
2014:
- The White House recognized Clif Bar for demonstrating leadership in renewable energy through our 50/50 by 2020 which supports the transition of our supply chain partners to green power.
2012:
- Clif Bar’s 115,000 square foot headquarters is the first building in Emeryville, CA to achieve LEED Platinum certification.
2011:
- Our smart solar array was the first installed in North America over 500 kWh and provides us the majority of our electricity. Our solar panels provide us with 70% of our hot water.
- Nearly 250 million pounds of organic ingredients have been purchased to date.
- Clif Bar & Company Collaborates with Rainforest Alliance for Cocoa Certification in CLIF Bars, our flagship product. 100% of cocoa ingredients for CLIF will be Rainforest Alliance certified.
2010:
- Clif Bar is invited to Washington D.C. to address a national USDA conference about how to drive change toward a more sustainable 21st century agricultural system.
- Clif Bar gets new green headquarters! The building is repurposed, and 100% of all construction wood was reclaimed (from old railroad ties, barns, etc.) or harvested from sustainably managed forests.
- In our new green HQ, we open Kali’s Kitchen, an on-site café for employees, which works with regional farmers to source organic ingredients.
- Clif Bar recognized as Climate Counts Industry Innovator.
2009:
- Clif Bar & Company joins BICEP (Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy) to advocate for strong climate legislation.
- Clif Bar Family Foundation launches SEED MATTERS program with $500,000 commitment to protecting and developing organic seeds.
- Partnering with NativeEnergy, Clif Bar supports the Greensburg wind farm (in the Kansas town rebuilding green after ’07 tornado).
2008:
- Free bikes! Cool Commute program upgraded. All employees can receive up to $500 to buy a bicycle if needed for their commute.
- Clif Bar begins tracking and offsetting carbon footprint of shipping products to customers.
- Clif Bar & Company launches the COOL HOME PROGRAM, providing employees with up to $1000 annually to make eco-improvements to their homes.
- Clif SHOT BLOKS packaging redesigned to save 25,000 lbs of packaging a year.
- Clif Bar brings office energy and water use down by 10% by hosting a company-wide eco-challenge.
2007:
- All field marketing fleet switch to biodiesel.
- Clif Bar & Company offsets its historical carbon footprint from 1992 to 2002 providing the hurdle funding needed to build six farmer-owned wind turbines in the Midwest.
2006:
- Cool Commute Program, the country's first employee biodiesel and hybrid incentive program. Employees are also rewarded for walking, biking, carpooling and taking public transportation.
- All company vehicles begin filling up with local, recycled biodiesel.
2005:
- Escape from Alcatraz becomes the first ever climate neutral triathlon in partnership with Clif Bar.
2004:
- NATURAL ENERGY TOUR is launched – becoming the nationʼs first climate neutral biodiesel mobile marketing tour.
2003:
- CLIF BAR goes organic USDA Certified!
- Partnership with American Forests launched to plant trees to offset employee commutes. 5000 trees planted each year.
- Company switches to 100% recycled paperboard, generating an environmental savings upstream of 14,000 trees and 6 million gallons of water in one year!
- Company becomes CLIMATE NEUTRAL by offsetting the carbon footprint of our office, business travel, bakeries and delivery to our distribution center by investing in wind energy
2002:
- Caddies redesigned to be shrink wrap free avoiding the use of 90,000 pounds of plastic.
2001:
- CB&C hires a full-time ecologist and develops an in-house Sustainability Program which launches on Earth Day and a commitment to the planet is made.