Eco Responsible

The Carmel Gallery is Committed to Eco-Friendly Business Practices
Following is a list of ways we at the Carmel Gallery try to reduce the impact of our business on the environment:

Gallery Building: The new Carmel Gallery is an infill redevelopment project that will contribute to the pedestrian orientation and economic vitality of Truckee’s historic downtown district. We have used green building materials in the construction of this new gallery addition, including recycled barn wood floors.

Paper: We use 100% Cotton Canvas and Crane Papers which are “tree free”. Cotton fibers are naturally whiter, brighter and more durable and permanent than wood fibers. The beauty of cotton is that it contains very little lignin (the compound that makes tree trunks sturdy) and is alpha-cellulose. This means it requires very little bleaching. Here is a summary of why our Crane Paper is preferable to wood-based paper:

  1. It’s tree free – Not a single tree falls to make Crane’s 100% cotton paper.
  2. It’s renewable – Cotton is a renewable resource replacing itself in a single growing season.
  3. It’s recovered – 100% cotton paper is made from recovered cotton materials including remnants from the garment industry that might otherwise end up in a landfill.
  4. It’s recyclable – 100% cotton paper is readily converted into more sheets of cotton paper. It can also be recycled along with other office paper waste.
  5. It’s energy efficient – Cotton requires far less water and chemical processing than do papers made from wood and our energy usage per ton of paper is much less than typical wood pulp and paper mills. Using less energy is one of the best ways to preserve our environment.
  6. It’s natural – 100% cotton paper is just that – pure enough to sleep on, dream on. No other paper matches the soft feel and elegant texture. And we don’t need to use harmful elemental chlorine to make our paper bright and white because Mother Nature has already done the work for us.

Printer & Inks: We use Epson printers and inks. Epson is a company committed to environmentally responsible business practices. A detailed report on the company’s environmental programs is available from this link: Epson Sustainability Report. We also recycle all of our ink cartridges.

Framing Materials: We have completed an audit of the woods used in our preferred frame molding materials, and have discontinued moldings that are made from potentially endangered wood. We now carry frame molding made by FRAMERICA, which are made in the U.S.A. from recycled wood which they brand as Bonanza Wood .Framerica’s products have earned Environmentally Preferred Product (EPP) certification from the Composite Panel Association of wood manufacturers, and BonanzaWood saves deforestation from solid wood and the oil consumption attributed to plastics. Framerica has used BonanzaWood as the primary core for its moldings for more than 10 years. BonanzaWood contributes to absolutely zero deforestation, in many instances utilizing wood waste from post-consumer products that would otherwise be destined for landfills When possible, we use certifiable sustainably harvested wood, including Forest Stewardship Council Certified wood for our picture frames and canvas stretcher bars, to ensure that the wood is sustainably harvested. In many forests around the world, logging still contributes to habitat destruction, water pollution, displacement of indigenous peoples, and violence against people who work in the forest and the wildlife that dwells there. Many consumers of wood and paper, and many forest products companies believe that the link between logging and these negative impacts can be broken, and that forests can be managed and protected at the same time. Forest Stewardship Council certification is one way to improve the practice of forestry.

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle: We recycle all paper, glass, and plastic by products. The majority of our product packaging is from reused materials. We have introduced a new line of shop bags made from compostable corn starch with the brand name Bio Bags, and plastic bags made from recycled plastics.

Support for Environmental and Social Justice: We donate thousands of dollars a year in artwork and cash donations to various environmental and community serving organizations. We are also members of the Sierra Green Building Association.

Following is a listing of organizations we support:

eco-logo_tdltTruckee Donner Land Trust: The mission of the Truckee Donner Land Trust is to preserve and protect important recreational, scenic and historic open spaces in the Truckee Donner area. www.tdlandtrust.org

eco-trails-foundationThe Truckee Trails Foundation: The Truckee Trails Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitate construction and maintenance, through collaboration and leadership, of a non-motorized, multi-use public trail system throughout Truckee, connecting to neighborhoods, resorts and recreational opportunities. www.truckeetrails.org

The Humane Society of Truckee Tahoe: The Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe is an animal welfare group dedicated to the prevention of cruelty of animals, the relief of suffering among animals, and the extension of humane education to improve the quality of animal life. www.hstt.org

Sierra Business Council: The Sierra Business Council (SBC) is a nonprofit association of more than five hundred businesses, agencies, and individuals working to secure the social, environmental and financial health of the Sierra Nevada region for this and future generations. www.sbcouncil.org.

Tahoe Forest Hospice Services: Hospice is a special kind of care designed to offer skilled, medically appropriate services and comfort to people in the final stage of a terminal illness, and sensitivity and support to their families. Our overriding goal at TahoeForest Hospice is to enhance the quality of life for the patient physically, spiritually and emotionally. http://www.tahoecancercenter.com

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation: The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation has been a global leader in the fight against breast cancer through its support of innovative research and community-based outreach programs. Working through a network of U.S. and international Affiliates and events like the Komen Race for the Cure®, the Komen Foundation is fighting to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by funding research grants and supporting education, screening and treatment projects in communities around the world. www.komen.org

The KidZone Museum: The KidZone Museum is a Truckee based non-profit facility whose mission is to inspire the life-long love of learning by engaging the minds, muscles and imaginations of children and programs that emphasize the arts, sciences and humanities.www.kidzonemuseum.org

The Far West Nordic Ski Education Association: FWNSA promotes all aspects of nordic skiing and racing on the west coast. They organize the Youth Development and Competition teams. www.farwestnordic.org

Auburn Ski Club and Junior Olympics 2005: Hosted the junior national championships at Boreal this past winter. Carmel Studios produced the promotional poster and awards banner backdrop. www.auburnskiclub.org

Denali Foundation: The Denali Foundation was founded in 1989 in order to develop and implement research, education and communication programs that benefit the Denali Park region and the state of Alaska. www.denali.org

Mountain Area Preservation Society and Sierra Watch: MAPF and Sierra Watch are two different non-profit organizations working to protect the incomparable natural resources and unparalleled quality of life in the Sierra Nevada mountain range www.mapf.org andwww.sierrawatch.org

Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation: The TTCF’s mission is to strengthen the community and quality of life by the giving of grants to non-profit organizations serving the Truckee North Tahoe region in areas such as the environment, youth, healthcare, education, human services, and arts and humanities.www.ttcf.com

Tahoe Forest Hospital Foundation: The Tahoe Forest Hospital Foundation is an operating foundation whose sole purpose is to provide philanthropic support for Tahoe Forest Hospital programs and services, and allied Hospital departments. www.tfhf.com

Disabled Sports USA Far West: Disabled Sports USA Far West is one of the leaders in adaptive sports and recreation for people with disabilities. Their belief is that sports are a vital part of the process in which disabled individuals gain self-confidence, mobility, and greater independence. Their programs promote education, socialization and employment and help turn tragedy into triumph by instilling in participants the knowledge that it’s not their disabilities, but their abilities that count. www.dsusafw.org

Truckee PTO – Parent Teachers Organization of Truckee: A non profit organization that helps provide educational tools and facilities at Truckee elementary school and support open communication between parents and teachers.

Dipsea Race Foundation: The Dipsea Race Foundation is a charitable non-profit (501(c) 3) corporation whose mission is to “foster national amateur sports competition by sponsoring, maintaining and perpetuating, through charitable contributions and endowments, the Dipsea Race, the Dipsea Trail, the Dipsea Hall of Fame, and educational scholarships.” www.dipseafoundation.org

South Yuba River Citizens League: The South Yuba River Citizens League is a community-based educational nonprofit corporation committed to the protection, preservation and restoration of the entire Yuba Watershed. SYRCL works to fulfill its mission by aggressively seeking environmental solutions through the tools of education, organization, collaboration, litigation and legislation. www.syrcl.org

Tahoe LUNA Chix Team / Breast Cancer Fund: The Tahoe LUNA Chix Team is a small group of women passionate about the outdoors. They are working to positively impact our community. You will see them at local events like trail building and girls sports day, fundraisers for the Breast Cancer Fund and a summer women’s clinic.
http://www.breastcancerfund.org/site/pp.asp?c=kwKXLdPaE&b=43969 and http://www.tahoelunachix.com/

Placer Land Trust: Placer Land Trust was founded in 1991 as a community-based private nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving lands that hold valuable natural, historic, agricultural, and recreational resources in Placer County, California. They work with landowners and conservation partners to permanently preserve natural open spaces and agricultural lands in Placer County. http://www.placerlandtrust.org/

Casa de Angeles Foundation: Casa de Angeles Foundation is a non profit 501 ecumenical and charitable organization dedicated to the care of orphaned and abandoned children in Guatemala. http://www.casadeangeles.org/

No Limits Tahoe: Mark Wellman Celebrity Golf Challenge benefits the programs of Disabled Sports USA-Far West, part of a national non-profit organization dedicated to providing affordable, inclusive physical and recreational activities that build health and confidence. The event will also benefit No Barriers USA, a northern California non-profit corporation who is dedicated to increasing active participation in the outdoors for people with disabilities. http://www.nolimitstahoe.com/golf_factsheet.htm

Friends of the Truckee Library: The mission of the Friends of the Truckee Library is to focus community attention on the continuing value and health of our library as a cultural, educational, and recreational asset. http://new.mynevadacounty.com/library/index.cfm?ccs=595&cs=535

Mountain View Montessori School – Reno Nevada: Mountain View Montessori School is an independent, coeducational, non-profit, non-sectarian school which welcomes students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. They are supported by tuition, parent donations, and community and philanthropic grants and gifts. http://www.mountainviewmontessori.com/home.html

2007 Breast Cancer 3 – day in San Diego: Another great fundraiser to fund breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment programs. Also benefits the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund. http://08.the3day.org/site/PageServer?pagename=experience

Tahoe League for Charit TLC: A non-profit organization, is a philanthropic group whose primary focus is to award scholarships to students and grants to needy local non-profit organizations. Their one annual fund raiser, WIN FOR CHARITY finances their contributions. http://www.tahoeleagueforcharity.org/

The Wildlife Shelter, Inc. As more people migrate from urban areas into wildlife habitat, the chances of interaction between humans and other species increase. Sometimes these encounters are enjoyable and positive, but often accidents happen that injure the wildlife. Wildlife Shelter, Inc. exists to respond to such injuries, providing a place for people to bring orphaned, injured or sick wildlife for treatment and release back to the wild. www.wildlifeshelter.org

North Tahoe Arts – Raising Monet for the Arts: Money raised will help North Tahoe Arts continue to provide programs supporting the art community throughout the North Lake Tahoe-Truckee region. These programs include the monthly exhibits at the Art Center, Tahoe ARTour, ARTisan Shop, ART in Public Places and YouthART camp. http://www.northtahoearts.com/raising_monet.php

Festival in the Foothills – a benefit for the Sierra Adoption Services: Sierra Adoption Services is licensed by the State of California and is a fully accredited member of the California Association of Services for Children and the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC). http://www.sierraadoption.org

Project Graduation: Annual fundraiser to benefit a safe drug and alcohol free graduation night for Truckee High School seniors.