The Geelong-based wholesale bakery, says the production of their buns is set to double and other products will also be offset by Christmas 2010.

During the bakery's expansion last year, La Madre asked the Carbon Reduction Institute (CRI), to help them find the best way to reduce their carbon footprint. La Madre now offsets their production by purchasing carbon credits from the Karnataka Renewable Energy Project in India, generating renewable energy from clean-burning waste from agricultural products like rice husks, and have been granted CRI accreditation.

La Madre's owner, Anna Spurling, said, "As a business owner, I believed I have a moral and social responsibility to give back to the community by adopting a sustainable path in the business. As a small business, I was astounded at how much CO2 emissions the company was giving off.

"Eventually as the business grows, all of the products and manufacturing facility will be carbon neutral. La Madre Bakery is taking a holistic approach to its business, of which looking after the environment plays a significant role."

La Madre supplies a variety of boutique outlets, cafes and restaurants, including David Jones, Thomas Dux Grocer and selected Farmers' Markets.