Environmental/local purchasing policy
Cornucopia Natural Foods is committed to forging supplier relationships that lead to positive outcomes for society and the environment. Therefore, Cornucopia Natural Foods has developed this policy to encourage the purchase and use of materials, products, and services that incorporate environmental, social, community, and performance goals. This policy applies to all Cornucopia Natural Foods employees in all locations (including virtual offices and employee home offices).
Environment:
Cornucopia Natural Foods maintains a deep commitment to sustainability and the importance of environmentally-beneficial considerations in vendor selection. Preference will be given to suppliers that meet robust third-party social and environmental certification criteria. Examples of this third-party criteria include, but are not limited to:
- Certified B Corporation
- Organic
- Fair Trade
- JUST Business
- Food Alliance Certified
- Global Reporting Initiative
- Green America
- Green Seal
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certified
- Energy Star Certified
Other rigorous and independent third-party certifications will be considered on a case by case basis.
Local / Diverse
Cornucopia Natural Foods’s policy also reflects the critical importance of supporting local economic development, community prosperity, and cultural diversity.
Therefore, preference will be given to independent suppliers physically located within 200 miles of Cornucopia Natural Foods’s location. Similarly, preference will be given to suppliers owned by women and people of color.
Please note that these are preferences and not absolute requirements. Price, quality, availability, and other factors will also be considered when selecting suppliers.
Resources:
Employees are encouraged to find socially and environmentally responsible vendors in their area by searching, for example, www.bcorporation.net or www.greenpages.org/.
In addition, employees can check out www.earth911.org for resources about environmental responsibility. This site also has a searchable database of local recycling / e-waste / hazardous waste disposal sites near you.