"One of the biggestdrawbacks of growing cannabis indoorsis the hefty energyrequirements. Whileoutdoor grow opsdepend on the sunfor lighting, indoor gardens don’t have this option."
In our last issue, we covered a report on the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of indoor cannabis production and cultivation within the United States. Following our article, we sat down with Chris Becker, cofounder of The Honeybee Collective, to shed some more light on the issues of GHG emissions associated with cannabis, learn how growers can reduce their carbon footprints, and find out how The Honeybee Collective is helping create a more sustainable cannabis industry for everyone.
“The Honeybee Collective has a goal of being known nationally as THE sustainable cannabis brand. We curate a selection of the best and most environmentally friendly cannabis products, all packaged in recyclable or compostable packaging. All of the products we sell are made with low-impact, sun-grown cannabis. When deciding how to package our products, we look for the lowest impact materials.” Said Chris.
Breaking Down the Report
Published by Nature Sustainability in 2021, the original report discussed the energy and material requirements for indoor commercial grow ops, the resulting GHG emissions, and how these factors can change based on location. The report concluded by discussing possible improvements to the cannabis growing and production processes, including technological solutions and policy development.
“Minimizing GHG emissions starts at the planning/buildout phase. Making a decision to grow outdoors or in a greenhouse is making a decision to prioritize the environment. If growing indoors, spending money upfront for more efficient LED lighting will reduce power consumption and emissions both from the lights and from the HVAC system.” Said Chris.
But GHG emissions can originate from more than lights and HVAC systems. In order to minimize your carbon footprint as much as possible, you need to consider shipping logistics and packaging materials, too.
“Cannabis producers may also want to consider the emissions footprint of their inputs and packaging. Domestically sourced inputs and packaging will tend to have a smaller carbon footprint than foreign products that need to be shipped overseas.” He continued.
Maintaining a Seasonal Schedule
In order to reduce their carbon footprint even further, growers can maintain a seasonal schedule. For example, maintaining an indoor garden during the winter is typically less expensive than running an indoor op during the summer months. As Chris points out, the grow lights used indoors might provide enough heat on their own.
Managing Cannabis Waste
Then, there is the issue of cannabis waste management. Even smaller grow ops can produce quite a bit of garbage over time – from plant waste and old grow lights to used and discarded packaging.
Making matters even worse is the strict regulations that some areas have enacted regarding cannabis waste management. This includes making cannabis waste unusable and unrecognizable before disposal, maintaining detailed records of cannabis waste management, and even storing cannabis waste in a secure location.
“Denver has a sustainability workgroup specifically dedicated to helping reduce waste and improve efficiency in the local cannabis industry. Cannabis waste from grows is required to be disposed of in a way that renders it unusable, and there are companies that are certified to compost green waste.” 
“Cooling a grow operation in summer costs significantly more than heating a grow in winter. Grow lights naturally produce some heat, which can keep a grow room at a comfortable temperature in winter but can quickly create hostile growing conditions in the summer. Almost all cooling systems are powered by electricity, while heating systems tend to use cheaper natural gas.”
Because of this, some year-round growers maintain an outdoor crop in the summer and an indoor garden in the winter. The result is a steady supply of product throughout the year while taking advantage of Mother Nature to lessen your impact on the environment as a whole.
In some cases, cannabis dispensaries are lending their support to waste management. This helps take the pressure off grow ops, consumers, and municipal governments alike.
“There are a number of dispensaries that offer consumers the chance to recycle packaging in-store, with a few that do offer rewards for participating consumers. One of these stores is The Republic in Boulder. One of the more prominent companies placing recycling stations in dispensaries in Colorado is called Green for Green.”
Rolling it All Up
While the cannabis industry isn’t among the major contributors to climate change, it’s better to nip any potential issues in the bud. It’s still an industry that’s on the rise, after all, and cannabis grow ops – both large and small – will continue to increase as more states embrace the plant for medical and recreational usage.
As Chris points out, The Honeybee Collective is already doing their part to minimize the environmental impact of cannabis production: “We are working to reduce the environmental impact of the industry at large by educating the public about the impacts of various grow styles, encouraging consumers to choose sun-grown cannabis, and advocating for more environmentally friendly regulations in the states where we operate.”
Taking a proactive approach to GHG emissions, climate change, and cannabis waste management benefits the entire industry. While the main goal is to help offset the carbon footprint of cannabis grow ops, there are a number of secondary benefits, too – like reducing costs, creating a safer product for consumers, and meeting governmental standards.
