In a world where every action leaves a mark, the question isn't whether we make an impact but rather how we make an impact. Enter the realm of “impact reports”— a transparent lens where companies provide a comprehensive overview of their operations, initiatives, and contributions. It's not just about the triple bottom line — it's about revealing the full scope of their footprint. This transparency helps bridge the gap between intention and action, ensuring companies build strong relationships by following through with commitments to responsible business practices.
For Mountain Rose Herbs, publishing an impact report goes beyond celebrating triumphs; it's about calling ourselves out on areas of improvement. This fosters a culture of accountability, ensuring that we evolve and adapt in our pursuit of positive change. Throughout our 30+ year journey, we have continuously implemented strategies to improve our sustainability efforts, but after digging deep into 2023, we discovered that our focus has left gaps in our corporate social responsibility. We have forgotten to place the human being front and center in every decision.
Moving forward, we recognize the need to evaluate the human experience at every level of our company. We need more transparency and accountability in our policies and operations, which entails developing actionable steps to walk the talk and become a truly inclusive business. We understand the importance to shift our focus to support underrepresented communities and embed equity into our culture. We are committed to building strong partnerships with those who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), and we are dedicated to nurturing these relationships by supporting BIPOC organic farmers and land justice initiatives.
Another area that we can improve is our sourcing practices. In looking at our carbon footprint, we realize we can instead shift our actions to avoid carbon-creating activity as much as possible. Since a large amount of our footprint is due to sourcing internationally, we are actively exploring avenues to create a viable supply of organic herbal products that can be grown in the United States. Unfortunately, changing our supply chain is not as simple as making the decision, and we have struggled to find sufficient solutions at a commercial scale. Our long-term goals include transitioning to more domestic sourcing practices, strengthening relationships with local farmers, and investing in local communities. We recognize the importance of transparency with this process and are dedicated to keeping our community informed about the steps we take.
As the new Sustainability Specialist for Mountain Rose Herbs, I am honored to look for new and improved ways of bringing sustainability to the forefront of the company. A large part of my role includes sharing innovative ideas through an ecological and equitable lens, bridging gaps in communication, and forming mutually beneficial relationships. Shifting culture is often challenging work, but extremely necessary if we want to find a better way forward, collectively. In our first Impact Report, you will find details on what Mountain Rose Herbs is currently doing, who we are helping, and what we can do better. Your support is integral to our journey, and we invite you to join us in co-creating a resilient future. Together, we can make a positive impact.
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