7-Eleven's Reduced Emissions Fuel Program Attains Goal of Planting 100,000 Trees

IRVING, Texas — 7-Eleven Inc. has achieved its goal of planting 100,000 trees in one year's time through its RENEW reduced emissions fuel program.

As part of the program, the convenience store operator has offset 32,448 metric tons of carbon emissions. That's the equivalent of powering 1.6 million homes for a whole day with no environmental impact, the company reported.

The RENEW reduced emissions program is a collaboration between 7-Eleven and GreenPrint, a company that promotes sustainability through the retail gasoline, fleet and consumer product industries. The program partners with the Arbor Day Foundation to ensure trees are planted strategically in some of the areas that needs them the most, like reforestation projects for national parks impacted by forest fires. 

"7-Eleven and their RENEW reduced emissions fuel program are an example of how to do the right thing in business and the communities you serve," said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. "Through this collaboration, thousands will benefit from the positive environmental impact that 100,000 trees have on a community for many years." 

The c-store retailer launched a test of RENEW in September 2017, kicking off at 95 convenience stores. Today, a total of 934 7-Eleven locations offer the RENEW program in northern California; Portland, Ore.; Seattle; Milwaukee and Madison, Wis.; and Vancouver, B.C.  

Customers can reduce their emissions by purchasing the same fuel they have always pumped at 7-Eleven stores. GreenPrint calculates tailpipe emissions from gasoline sales to determine the amount to invest in certified carbon reduction projects. The goal is to help offset carbon emissions in the atmosphere by up to 30 percent, while supporting local nonprofit organizations and planting trees together with the Arbor Day Foundation.

For every gallon of gas purchased in the 7-Eleven RENEW program, an investment is made in reforestation, green-scape projects, wildlife protection and renewable energy projects designed to help reduce tailpipe emissions. The local, regional and global certified carbon reduction projects are designed to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The RENEW program helps to fund more than a dozen sustainability projects.

"It is exceptional to see an organization, such as 7-Eleven, that consistently listens to its customers' ambitions and provides them with the resources they are looking for to fulfill them," said Pete Davis, founder and CEO of GreenPrint. "With the RENEW program, 7-Eleven is able to help customers achieve their desire to help the environment and make their community a better place."

As part of 7-Eleven's planting initiative, the convenience retailer has also launched "Plant It Forward," a program that enables customers and local community members to dedicate a tree to family or friends for free. Plant It Forward is available to customers living in Washington, Oregon, California or Wisconsin.

"We've expanded our sustainability footprint as it is important to our communities, customers and organization," said 7-Eleven Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Chris Tanco. "In 2019, we look forward to continuing to make a positive impact on the local communities in which we operate by further growing the RENEW program."

Irving-based 7-Eleven operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 67,000 stores in 17 countries, including 11,800 in North America.