Steph Croft-Simon, Founder of Nom Foods, discusses the importance of operating a truly ethical business
Nom Foods provides on-the-go snacks packed full of nutrient rich superfoods. In under two years, Nom Foods has secured listings with the likes of Holland & Barrett, Whole Foods, Abel & Cole and Ocado.
A lot of brands talk about the importance of doing ‘ethical’ business. At nom, our mission is all about making it easier for customers to put good, nourishing food into their bodies.
However, being ethical is about far more than supplying a healthy or sustainable product to your customer. To truly call yourself an ethical business, strong values and a desire to ‘do good’ must underpin every activity within the organisation - from the way you treat suppliers, to the way you transport your products; even transparent communication is an important part of ethical practice.
Below are some of the areas which help define Nom as a truly ethical business:
ORGANIC
The ingredients used in our recipes are organic. Our products are certified by the Soil Association, to their exacting standards. Organic standards are the rules and regulations that define how an organic product must be made. The standards cover all aspects of food production, from animal welfare and wildlife conservation, to food processing and packaging.
VEGAN
Aside from animal cruelty – there are some other, very good reasons we only make Vegan products. The production of meat and other animal products places a heavy burden on the environment – from crops and water required to feed the animals, to the transport and other processes involved from farm to fork. The vast amount of grain feed required for meat production is a significant contributor to deforestation, habitat loss and species extinction. A staggering 51% or more of global greenhouse-gas emissions are caused by animal agriculture, according to a report published by the Worldwatch Institute. By only creating only plant-based products and endorsing a vegan lifestyle, we are ensuring that our products are as eco-friendly as possible. More and more people are also turning to a vegan diet for the health benefits.
ETHICAL COMPANY
We also proudly display the Ethical Company Logo. We were awarded this because of our commitment to sourcing fairly traded ingredients for our products. The cacao powder, cacao nibs, coconut palm sugar, raspberries and bananas in our oat bars are all fair trade. The virgin coconut oil is imported by a former Save the Children field worker, who went out to Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the 2004 Tsunami to help with the clear up operation. He started importing coconut oil back to the UK as a way of bringing some trade back to affected areas.
PACKAGING
Our packaging is recyclable / recycled wherever possible and we are constantly striving to work with like-minded partners and suppliers. Our display boxes are approved by the Forest Stewardship Council, which allows consumers to identify products originating from well-managed forests.
DELIVERY
We only use carbon neutral delivery companies.
PARTNERS
We only supply other businesses that fit with our ethical ideas and uphold our values – retailers like Whole Foods, Abel & Cole, Ocado and Holland & Barrett all have sustainable policies in place, which we agree with and aspire to. Many of our distributors are co-operatives, who run business models that operate within planetary limits and are sensitive to their economic, environmental and social responsibilities.
EMPLOYEES
We carry this idea through to employing the right staff, too. Employees are sustainably aware and bring real knowledge and value to the business. The latest member of the nom team, Amy, has a master’s in environmental sustainability. This kind of background allows us to ensure that we are working as sustainably as possible with partners and third parties.
With the rise in ethical shopping – and customers increasingly investing in products which offer some value to the planet and environment as well as their own health, we know that our messaging aligns to the current market. We see the importance of all businesses, large and small, proving their effectiveness through corporate sustainability.
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