People often assume that sustainability is not compatible with the tenets of successful business management. However, Mountain Rose Herbs is an excellent example of how a company can be guided by the principle of putting people, plants, and planet before profit and how business decisions can successfully consider both the environmental and social impact of operational choices and costs. Keeping sustainability at the core of our business practices means we are aware of the full cost of doing business and we make decisions consciously to minimize any negative impact that our company might have on our community, ecosystems, and ultimately the planet. With a history rooted in environmental and social activism, we cannot imagine operating a business any other way.
As our customers know, we are avid proponents of organic agriculture and we continually evaluate the full life cycle of our products. This begins long before botanical materials reach our facilities. We support our farm partners and harvesters through organizations like Fair for Life, and work with Oregon Tilth to ensure that our products meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program standards, and that our facilities and production methods are in full compliance. Our commitment to operating with zero waste means we divert over 90% of the waste we create, keeping these materials from ending up in the landfill, or in our streets, rivers, and water supply. We also strive to use product packaging that is reusable, recyclable, or compostable. As always, our values guide our journey, which has continued to unfold in remarkable ways for 35 years as we have grown in size, intention, and positive impact.
Resource and waste management is the essential starting point for the work we do to support environmental conservation. However, we also practice environmental stewardship through charitable donations that support local and national organizations that work to protect our forests, rivers, and wildlife, as well as those that advocate for organic agriculture, herbal education, and social justice. Since 2010, Mountain Rose Herbs has donated more than two million dollars to like-minded organizations. We are pleased to say that, after several years of unprecedented challenges due to global warming, resource scarcity, and the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are again poised to invest in the future of the communities we serve, the plants we rely on, and the planet that sustains us. In 2023, we will be increasing our charitable giving budget.
We are expanding the Mountain Rose River Project, which will increase the number of conservation and habitat rehabilitation projects our staff completes in our local Willamette River Watershed. We will also continue to invest in sustainable facility design while consolidating our operations into the Mountain Rose Herbs Industrial Campus. This will significantly reduce our carbon footprint by increasing efficiency while also strengthening the comradery of our team. Additionally, we are prioritizing our employee wellness opportunities to support increased quality of life, a more cohesive company culture, and improved resiliency. We’ll keep you updated on our process here in the blog and on our social media, so be sure to check in on us throughout the year.