Carter Shows the Way

In my last Where We Live piece, I talked about big picture ideas of what we need to do. There are companies which have stepped up and are doing wonderful, innovative things.

is one of them. Now, how could that be? It sells cars, and driving is something we have to reduce dramatically, right? Yes. And Subarus may be well made, but they’re not known for huge mpg numbers, right? True, though they’re a lot better now than decades ago. So how can they be green? Is this all “greenwash”?

In case you hadn’t heard of it before, there’s a concept called greenwashing. It’s when a company, recognizing the public’s strong interest in environmental issues, will rebrand themselves as eco-conscious even when they aren’t, just like the older term “whitewashing.” 

But Carter Subaru looks like the real thing. First, it is certified with the Shoreline Green Business Program and, second, it has a program where for every test drive or purchase it plants trees in the Mountains to Sound Greenway to absorb carbon equivalent to a year’s normal driving.  

Carter Subaru’s website explains the great benefits this way:

Other benefits of the trees:

• In addition to neutralizing greenhouse gases, these trees will also provide critical wildlife habitat.

• These trees will also help in water storage. Forests act as sponges in times of heavy rain or snow, absorbing and then slowly releasing water, a critical function in decreasing flooding downstream.  

• This reduction in flooding helps protect fragile Northwest salmon habitat. Additionally, trees planted along streams and rivers help cool the water temperatures in these waterways to levels that keep salmon healthy.  

• Forested hillsides are a vital part of our Northwest identity. Through this partnership with the Mountains to Sound Greenway, we are ensuring that we will have permanently protected forests right on the edge of our cities for future generations. These forests are places where we will be able to hike and play forever.     

Third, it sponsored the North King County Green Business Conference in March and general sales manager Jen Moran, was the emcee. Carter is also part of the Seattle Storm’s Go Green program and other local initiatives.

Fourth, Subaru makes certified Partial Zero Emission Vehicles. As Subaru’s website explains: “Subaru Partial Zero Emission Vehicles meet California's Super-Ultra-Low-Emission vehicle exhaust emission standard. Gasoline vehicles meeting these standards can have even lower emissions than hybrid or alternative fuel vehicles.”

And fifth, Subaru, the manufacturer, is doing a lot to earn green cred by how they build their cars. Its Indiana plant is zero landfill—all waste is recycled or burned for electricity, and the whole facility, more than 800 acres, is designated as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.  

You may recall in my piece , about the Chinook Book, how complex the process of deciding which companies get in is. Same with cars. There’s a lot more to green cars than raw mpg, and Carter Subaru proves it.