We at incognito believe we can only take so much from the earth and that our planet is in a perilous position, especially for our children’s children. It needs help now, which is why we at incognito are part of the solution; and run a carbon-balanced emissions business. Here’s how we do it:

• All of our electricity comes from Ecotricity and is 100% wind-generated.
• We switch off all our computers and electronic equipment rather than leaving them on stand-by for extended periods.
• All of our vehicles are Environmentally Friendly Vehicles (EFVs). They are either 100% electric vehicles (EVs), which are literally powered indirectly by wind! Or we use super-efficient hybrids for longer distances.
• All our computers are Apple Mac’s because they leave less of a “Footprint” than PC’s
• incognito is grown in nitrate-free fertilizer soil and no pesticides are used in cultivating the organic citronella or eucalyptus, there is no need as these plants naturally repel arthropods (insects).
• There is no animal testing on any of our products. We are registered with the Vegan Society. As it says on the bottle, tested on humans not animals.
• incognito products are shipped rather than flown.
• We employ local people to manufacture incognito and we pay fairly. 10% of our profit is ploughed back into local communities who, we encourage to live in harmony with the planet.  We also reward loyalty and employees who stay the distance, are rewarded for their commitment.
• We use minimal packaging which is all recyclable along with all our stationery. Our soaps are packaged in Saa.
• All of our flyers are printed using fibres from sustainable forests and carry the FSC logo.
• We only use bio-degradable cleaning products.
• We even compost our lunch leftovers in the company kitchen!
• The amount of carbon dioxide emitted through manufacturing, shipping, printing and the petrol element of the hybrids is more than offset by our carbon projects which fall into two main categories. Firstly, we are curtailing carbon dioxide use in under-developed countries. For example we are changing all of the light-bulbs from inefficient to the latest energy saving ones, in Bethsaida Hermitage this is a charitable Eco-resort that directly funds two orphanages and other local charities.
• Secondly, we at incognito are convinced that planting trees is still one of the most effective ways of capturing carbon from the environment provided they are planted in the southern hemisphere (Page 11 ‘The Ecologist‘ UK edition January 2007); “trees growing in the tropics can have a positive effect upon reducing global temperatures … “. The services and benefits trees provide, for both organisms and humans alike, can be felt at a local and global level. Preserving trees is a step towards addressing many environmental issues. Trees not only stow carbon from the atmosphere, but later release it as oxygen hindering the 18% global carbon emission caused by deforestation. They also help in the prevention of climate change by cleaning the air and removing pollutants such as nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone, and carbon dioxide. In addition to cleaning the air, they also generate natural resources such as fresh water and fertile soil which could potentially relieve nearly 800 million people who live and work around tropical rainforests from poverty if we were to stop deforestation. One tree trunk alone can hold up to 0.65 tonne of carbon and also provides timber, food and fuel for the local communities. They help prevent floods by catching and displacing storm water and stop desertification, erosion, and mudslides. Trees also supply raw materials for medicine and science and approximately 40% of all biodiversity lives in theses tropical rainforests. One tree grown to maturity will provide a lifetime of oxygen for one human being. So we plant a number of trees with PATT.
• Every decision we make for our business is evaluated from an environmental perspective. We are a small ethically minded company, run as a flat hierarchy. We don’t have work titles or labels - it simply says “A friend to the planet” on each of our business cards. Every incognito member is involved in the decision-making process.

See these sites for more info:

www.eco-tube.com
www.resurgence.org
www.theecologist.org
www.180degrees.co.uk - we sponsor expeditions that highlight climate change.

We are also currently supporting www.orangutans-sos.org whose aims and objectives especially regarding the use of natural products and environmental awareness match our own.

Click on an image to see it full size