True Origin Shortlisted in Food & Drink Federation Awards
Fingers crossed!
We are excited to have been shortlisted in this years Food and Drink Federation Awards. The annual awards recognise innovation, industry talent and healthier product development across the food and drink sector.
The other businesses shortlisted in the Net Zero Initiative category are; British Sugar, Eden Geothermal, Weetabix Food Company and Nomad Foods. We are up against some very stiff competition, but looking forward to the event in London in September.
“Respect for the Environment” is one of the ten fair trade principles which True Origin adheres to as a WFTO Guaranteed Member and one which has clearly increased in importance as the extent of the climate emergency has become ever clearer. We believe there can be no climate justice without fair trade, highlighting that smallholder farmers and workers are part of the solution to the climate crisis.
Over recent years we have reviewed our environmental policy and net zero ambitions, and this is driving actions throughout our business. Some of the actions we are undertaking::
- Supported our parent charity, the Balmore Trust (now known as True origin partnerships) as they raisedfunds for a Briquette Project – led by women farmers in Malawi this award-winning project is seeking to reduce deforestation and waste by creating fuel briquettes from rice husks.
- Launched new resources within our 90kg Rice Challenge packs to enable schools to teach about climate change with real-life examples.
- Reviewed our waste streams and increased the percentage we recycle.
- Implemented changes to our shipping practices to reduce the carbon footprint associated with imports - double layering containers and consolidating shipments from two suppliers to maximize the container fill and avoid waste.
- Focused on eliminating food waste, using our foodbank fund to give any short-dated stock away.
- Significantly increased our organic range conscious of the benefits this brings to the planet.
- Taken an active part in Veganuary, highlighting the benefits of introducing plant-based meals to your diet and increasing the range of vegan friendly recipes on our website.
- Extended our range of products available in bulk for zero waste shops.
We will continue to focus on putting people and planet first, playing our part in building an economic system which is socially-just and planet-friendly.
We are working on a climate policy which will build on our environmental policy and specifically consider additional actions around net zero and carbon footprint. We are reviewing our work and how it aligns with the SDG’s (Sustainable Development Goals) and considering how we can better raise awareness of the climate credentials of our products, highlighting conscious consumerism as a priority for those who are concerned with climate matters.
Through all this we are seeking to reduce our environmental impact. As one practical example, we are currently testing recyclable packaging tape for orders.
Working with True Origin Partnerships (our parent charity) we hope to be able to share best practice between our various producer and to learn from them about how they are adapting to climate change and how we can support them in these initiatives.
The FDF Awards will bring together 600 guests to celebrate the winners and industry achievements from the last year. The FDF Awards 2024, sponsored by KPMG, will be hosted by the Irish chef, author of cookbooks and television presenter Clodagh McKenna, on Thursday 19th September at The Roundhouse in London.
Fingers crossed!
Read more about the FDF Awards here.
