As the Sustainability Specialist for Mountain Rose Herbs, I am proud to work for an independently-owned company committed to doing better, every day. Liberated from the pressure to cater to financial shareholders, we can join forces with like-minded companies and organizations and work collaboratively on sustainable solutions. An organization leading this initiative is One Step Closer (OSC), a coalition of visionary CEOs committed to advancing sustainable practices in food, agriculture, and the environment. Our own CEO, Cameron Stearns, had the honor of being accepted into the OSC ranks, joining the Packaging Collaborative as well as the J.E.D.I. Collaborative (Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion).
In addition to these OSC groups, there is also the Climate Collaborative, a collective taking meaningful steps to reverse climate change. At a recent natural products conference, I had the opportunity of attending One Step Closer’s first ever “Climate Day” – an entire day of programming dedicated to addressing climate issues and discussing sustainable solutions. Throughout the day, industry leaders shared their insights and experiences in the agricultural industry. Their stories served as a testament to the power of collective action and underscored the importance of integrating sustainable practices into every aspect of business operations. Topics ranged from regenerative organic agriculture and carbon offsetting, to supply chain resilience and renewable energy integration. Executive roundtables provided a unique opportunity for industry leaders to come together in a more intimate setting, sharing best practices, challenges, and solutions for advancing sustainability across the natural products industry.
Uniting for Climate Day, I was inspired by Dr. Lyla June’s keynote, "Living Systems, Living Values: The Lessons of Indigenous Regenerative Ecosystem Design.” Throughout her presentation, Dr. Lyla June painted a vivid picture of Indigenous knowledge and practices that have sustained ecosystems for generations. Her stories served as powerful reminders of the importance of honoring and learning from Indigenous wisdom, living with core values such as relationality, reciprocity, respect, and reverence. Dr. Lyla June challenged us to move beyond surface-level solutions and embrace a deeper understanding of humanity’s role within the web of life, where actions are led from our hearts instead of our pockets.
At Mountain Rose Herbs, we are committed to shifting to a more holistic perspective, considering all components in the system — from the soil, to plants, to animals, to people. By incorporating the values of Indigenous Regenerative Ecosystem Design into our agricultural practices and broader climate work, we can cultivate a more harmonious relationship with the natural world and effect real change where it’s needed. Together, we can find collaborative solutions and move one step closer to sustainability.
You may also be interested in:
Cultivating Change: Insights from the Small Farms Conference
Organic Sourcing from the Pacific Northwest
The Value of Fair for Life Certification