National Organic Month Spotlight Vendor: Nature’s Path
Nature’s Path was founded in Vancouver BC in 1985 by Arran and Ratana Stephens. The company started out, and still is today, a passionate, family-run company that makes delicious, organic breakfast and snack foods.
The seed for Nature’s Path was planted way back in the 1930s when Arran Stephens was growing up on his family’s second-generation organic berry farm. Arran’s father taught him how to care for and nurture the soil, telling him to “always leave the earth better than you found it”. These words have been woven into the very fabric of Nature’s Path.
Over the last 30 years Nature’s Path has grown to be North America’s largest certified organic breakfast and snack food company with a product line of over 150 cold cereals, granolas, hot oatmeal, waffles, bars, and cookies.
ORGANIC PIONEERS FROM THE BEGINNING
Nature’s Path products were the first USDA certified organic cereals on the market and since then our company and founders have worked tirelessly to keep organic advocacy at the forefront of our mission. We continually invest in farmland, converting it to organic, and we always challenge organic standards for the better.
SUSTAINABILITY GOALS
At Nature’s Path sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. It’s our mission to leave the earth better than we found it and that’s why every decision must align with our triple bottom line – being socially responsible, environmentally sustainable, and financially viable.
1. GROW ORGANIC
We grow and purchase only certified USDA Organic and Canada Organic ingredients. Our commitment to organic has kept over 70,500 tons of chemical fertilizers and over 1,000 tons of pesticides out of the soil between 2013-2016.
2. BECOME CARBON NEUTRAL
We have a goal to be completely carbon neutral. To do that we’re reducing our use of electricity, paperboard, and CO2 emissions per ton of product produced. We also purchase RECs (Renewable Energy Credits) to support green energy projects in the US.
3. ACHIEVE ZERO WASTE - we did it!
Since all 3 of our manufacturing facilities have achieved Zero Waste certification, we would say we can cross this one off the list. But, the work continues in order to maintain our Zero Waste status and do the best for our planet.
4. PRESERVE WATER
Organic farming and watershed protection go hand in hand, but we don’t stop there. We also send some of our waste water to a biodigester to be converted to energy, we are implementing an Environmental Management System, and practice eco-efficiency and continuous improvement.
5. EDUCATE, INSPIRE & ENGAGE
We want to make an impact not only by taking action ourselves, but by inspiring others to take action too. We provide sustainability training for all team members, collaborate with and donate to many organizations, maintain an SFTA dashboard, and B-Lab assessments.
6. GIVE BACK
Through financial contributions, in-kind donations, and volunteerism – we support many initiatives that align with our mission to leave the earth better. Some of these include: hunger relief, endangered species and habitat restoration, youth and environmental education, and more. We have an annual goal to donate at least 2 million dollars in food to food banks, partners, charities and other causes. In addition, 1% of EnviroKidz sales go to support endangered animals, protect their habitats and educate children worldwide.