Our sustainability strategy
If we are to achieve our goal of being a truly sustainable business, giving back, and positively impacting the health and wellbeing of people and planet we need a plan. It isn't enough to just make packaging from mycelium. As we looked into the impacts of our business operations (now and with our planned growth) we further realised just how interconnected everything is (just like mycelium) and it became very apparent we needed a plan to help ensure we didn't inadvertently create negative impacts while trying to provide a solution to others. Below is our sustainability strategy. We engaged with a consultant to guide us through the impacts of our operations and identify where we have impacts, the relevant size of those impacts, and the levels of control and influence we have over those impacts. From there we settled on 6 topics we feel are material to our business and our stakeholders. We then set ourselves SMART targets we want to achieve over the next 12 months, discussed the challenges in our way and strategies how to overcome them. The output was the strategy.
Objective
Become a carbon negative business
Why?
If our planet is to avoid climate catastrophe, we have to reduce the levels of GHG’s that currently exist in our atmosphere. We want to be a business that helps to solve our climate crisis.
Challenges
Being located in NZ we are geographically isolated in a. This has an impact on our supply chain as we have to transport some materials over long distances with limited freight options.
Targets June 2021
Map out carbon footprint.
Develop a strategy to become Carbon negative.
Seek out partners that share our value on GHG emission.
Driving education within the team on GHG emission.
Driving online engagements with our customers through social media.
Objective
Regenerate the soil health in NZ
Why?
Soil plays a vital role in the living ecosystem to sustain plants, animals and humans. It’s important to maintain soil health as healthy soils is what gives us clean air and water, abundant crops and forests, diverse wildlife and stretches of beautiful landscapes.
Challenges
In NZ, there are only a handful of organic hemp farmers.
Those who have used non organic and non-sustainable farming methods for a very long time, will be difficult to educate and switch to adopting organic regenerative farming practices.
Targets June 2021
Further educate ourselves on organic regenerative farming practices and soil health.
Promote sustainable farming initiatives/ organic regenerative farming practices.
Only source and feedstock for our products from organic regenerative sources.
Educate our customers on composting, regenerative organic farming and soil health.
Objective
Build Business Resilience
Why?
Economic downturns are hard to predict and the business context is and will continue to be unpredictable. Having appropriate business practices and strong governance will allow these uncertainties to be better planned for and managed.
Challenges
We are currently at the start-up stage with limited funds.
The majority of the decisions we make are more tactical as opposed to strategic.
We are living in a very uncertain economic climate
Targets June 2021
Establish strong team culture.
Establish good accounting ratio.
Develop risk management plan.
Build strong strategic business relationships.
Employing good decision-making practices and governance including a minimum of one independent director.
Objective
Be a Zero – Waste Business
Why?
We are a zero-waste organisation and none of the products we produce end up in landfill.
Be a circular business.
Challenges
We have inherited a linear economic system.
We are attempting to disrupt very large and well-resourced businesses who currently benefit from this linear model.
There is a lot of confusion relating to the recyclability of PS (and the recycling of materials in general).
Targets June 2021
As an organisation we will send no materials to landfill (zero-waste)
Establish internal guidelines and a strong zero waste culture
Eliminate single use food packaging by staff.
Work with partners / suppliers that share our zero-waste values.
Further educate ourselves about a circular economy.
Be a vocal supporter of a circular economic system and business models.
Objective
Help End Plastic Pollution
Why?
Every year about 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans from coastal nations. Thus greatly endangering the marine wildlife. Further compounding this problem is the fact that plastics have additives that make them stronger, flexible and durable. This means that plastic products take approximately 400 years to break down.
Challenges
Plastic has revolutionised the modern age from life saving equipment such such as helmets and incubators to technology advances allowing us to travel through space.
The convenience plastics offer quickly has led to a throw a way culture.
Today, single use plastics accounts for roughly 40% of the total yearly plastics production.
Targets June 2021
Make a measurable impact in reduction of EPS in NZ - initially have a minimum of 5 companies become EPS free.
Objective
Keep Learning
Why?
Although we are passionate about contributing to the environment and making a positive impact we still have a long way to go to further educate ourselves and ensure our actions and the impacts enhance the future prosperity and longevity of our planet.
Challenges
There is mass confusion in waste management in NZ and many people aren’t disposing of their rubbish responsibly nor in an environmentally friendly manner.
It is difficult to communicate to the general population the urgency of global warming, climate crisis and sustainability.
We anticipate that there would be some confusion communicating the technical specifics of our products as well as differentiating between mycelium vs mushrooms.
Targets June 2021
Develop a social media strategy that will help to educate the general population about mycelium in the natural environment and its role in packaging.
Produce a communication piece on how to compost your BioFab product.
Engage with external subject matter experts when required.
Develop a policy relating to our own personal and professional development.
Develop a culture of learning and development.