How We Calculate the Footprint & Neutralize It
(Disclaimer: This information was last updated on 10/13/2025 and may change in the future. This is the most current version at this time.)
We track the full lifecycle of every Northrune Beanie — from fabric to shipping — to calculate the carbon footprint. We then neutralize it by planting trees.
1️⃣ Standard Estimate (Conservative Baseline)
| Component |
CO₂ Emissions (kg per beanie) |
Notes / Assumptions |
| Fabric production |
4.0 |
Includes yarn sourcing, dyeing, and minor scraps (assuming ~0.3–0.4 kg fabric per beanie) |
| Fabric shipping |
0.2 |
Truck from supplier to MN |
| Electricity (production) |
1.0 |
Sewing and production energy ($60/month spread over many beanies) |
| Packaging & sourced parts |
0.3 |
Tags, labels, inserts, elastic if any |
| Shipping to customer |
0.5 |
Max U.S. distance: MN → ME |
| Operational overhead |
0.1 |
Office, hosting, website, small workshop transport, employee commuting |
| Production consumables |
0.05 |
Needles, bobbins, minor workshop materials |
| Returns / Exchanges |
Not included |
Depends on circumstance; extra tree planted if return occurs |
| Total Footprint |
6.15 |
Fully comprehensive, conservative estimate |
Tree Offset Calculation
A single young tree absorbs about 12 kg of CO₂ per year (≈60 kg over 5 years), while a mature tree can absorb 30–50 kg per year (≈150–250 kg over 5 years).
Total trees planted per beanie: 6.15 ÷ 12 ≈ 1 tree
By planting one tree per beanie through local conservation partners, we fully neutralize the carbon footprint of your Northrune Beanie.
2️⃣ Overestimate Scenario (Extra-Safe)
| Component |
CO₂ Emissions (kg per beanie) |
Notes / Assumptions / Safety Margin |
| Fabric production |
5.0 |
Higher-impact yarn, extra scraps included |
| Fabric shipping |
0.3 |
Longer truck routes or delays considered |
| Electricity (production) |
1.2 |
Slightly higher electricity use in shop |
| Packaging & sourced parts |
0.4 |
Extra packaging, labels, inserts |
| Shipping to customer |
0.6 |
Maximum distance or heavier package |
| Operational overhead |
0.15 |
Extra marketing, office, hosting, e-commerce, minor workshop transport |
| Production consumables |
0.07 |
Needles, bobbins, machine oil, minor workshop materials |
| Returns / Exchanges |
Not included |
Extra tree planted if return occurs |
| Total Footprint |
7.72 |
Fully overestimated to cover all scenarios |
Tree Offset Calculation
Total trees planted per beanie: 7.72 ÷ 12 ≈ 1 tree
Even though our conservative estimate shows that 1 tree fully offsets the footprint of a Northrune Beanie, and our overestimate suggests 1 tree would cover it, we go a step further to be extra safe: we plant 2 trees per beanie. This ensures that every Northrune Beanie remains carbon neutral, even under the highest-impact scenarios or unexpected events.
