introduction to sfta and sustainability. welcome to sfta the following presentation outlines what is...
TRANSCRIPT
Introduction to SFTA and Sustainability
Welcome to SFTA
The following presentation outlines what is SFTA and the resources you can access with your
membership and why we focus on sustainability.
Introduction to SFTA & Sustainability
Formation of the organization
2005 – Declaration of sustainability
2008 – Formation of FTSLA
2012 – Strategic name change
Importance of Sustainability -
SFTA follows 2 key frameworks
• Organic• The Natural Step
History of the Organization
Introduction to SFTA & Sustainability
Build the capacity of the organic food trade to transition to sustainable business models.
Mission
To conduct our businesses in a way that meets the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs….We embrace the challenge to move our operations and actions toward sustainable models where the [activities] of the organic food trade becomes consistent with the principles of sustainability.
Vision:
Staff
Katherine DiMatteo
Executive Director
Sandra Marquardt
Director of Communications
Lisa Spicka
Director of Education
Who we are
Introduction to SFTA & Sustainability
Who we are: Members
Amy’s KitchenAnnie’s Inc Andean NaturalsAshland Food Cooperative Awe Sum OrganicsBluff Country Co-opBridges Produce Café MamCascadian Farms / Muir GlenCentral Co-opChico Natural Foods CoopCiranda Clif Bar Community Food Coop
Earthbound FarmThe Food Coop Port
Townsend
Full Circle FarmsGloryBee Foods Go Macro, LLCGuayaki, Inc.Hanover Consumer CoopHeath and Lejeune Hummingbird Wholesale LifeSource Natural Foods Lundberg Family Farms MOM’s Organic Market Nature’s Path FoodsNew Pioneer Coop Nielsen Massey Vanillas IncOrganic Produce WarehouseOrganic Valley/CROPP Cooperative
Organically Grown CompanyOutpost Natural Food Coop Pacific Natural FoodsPCC Natural MarketsSo Delicious Dairy Free Stonyfield FarmStraus Family CreamerySundance Natural Foods SunOpta Inc. Timeless Seeds Traditional Medicinals
VivaTierraWedge Co-op / Coop
Partners Wholsum Family Farms
Introduction to SFTA & Sustainability
Who we are
Homegrown Organic Farms Organics UnlimitedPlum OrganicsUnited Natural Foods Inc./Albert’s Organics
Global ID GroupPure StrategiesQuality Assurance InternationalSustainable DynamicsWISErg CorporationWolf, DiMatteo + Associates
Associate Members & FriendsCalifornia Certified Organic FarmersIndependent Natural Food Retailers
AssociationNational Cooperative Grocers Assoc.Oregon TilthOrganic Trade AssociationProvender Alliance
Introduction to SFTA & Sustainability
2014 Sponsors
Board of DirectorsShauna Sadowski – Annie’s Inc. (President)Cecil Wright, Organic Valley (Vice President)
Jason Boyce, Nature’s Path Foods (Treasurer)Brionne Saseen, Chico Natural Foods(Secretary)
Diana Chapman, PCC Natural MarketsPeter Golbitz, SunOpta
Britt Lundgren, Stonyfield FarmHansel New, SoDelicious Dairy Free
Jim Pierce, Oregon TilthIsabelle Reining, Straus Family Creamery
Natalie Reitman-White, Organically Grown Company
Who we are
Introduction to SFTA & Sustainability
Educate & Communicate
Connect with Experts
Shared Solutions
Metrics & Reporting
Declaration Areas
1. Organics 2. Climate change 3. Energy 4. Distribution and sourcing 5. Labor 6. Packaging 7. Water 8. Waste 9. Animal care 10. Education 11. Governance
Defining what achieving sustainability would look like.
Creating a clear framework for businesses to report progress
Inspiring action by making a public commitment.
Introduction to SFTA & Sustainability
SFTA Member Resources
Member Center – Access Toolkits, other member reports, archived webinars and reporting tools.
SFTA Forum – Online social networking site that connects all SFTA members in discussions about various Sustainability topics
Webinars – Free for all SFTA members, topics vary each month related to sustainability for the organic food trade
Workshops – Discounts for SFTA members – topics range from Sustainability 101 to Skills development for sustainability implementation
Introduction to SFTA & Sustainability
Introduction to Sustainability
Introduction to SFTA & Sustainability
Green vs. Sustainability
Green
• Detail focused
• Immediate Action
• Environment
• Lacks common definition of success
Sustainability
• Whole systems focus
• Strategic
• Triple bottom line (people, profit, planet)
• Capable of defining success
Introduction to SFTA & Sustainability
Defining Sustainability
Introduction to SFTA & Sustainability
It is important to have a clear definition of sustainability so that all stakeholders know
what they are working towards.
How does your company define sustainability?
To conduct our businesses in a way that meets the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs….We embrace the challenge to move our operations and actions toward sustainable models where the [activities] of the organic food trade becomes consistent with the principles of sustainability.
Sustainability
EconomicEnvironmental
Social
To conduct our businesses in a way that meets the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs….We embrace the challenge to move our operations and actions toward sustainable models where the [activities] of the organic food trade becomes consistent with the principles of sustainability.
To conduct our businesses in a way that meets the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs….We embrace the challenge to move our operations and actions toward sustainable models where the [activities] of the organic food trade becomes consistent with the principles of sustainability.
To conduct our businesses in a way that meets the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs….We embrace the challenge to move our operations and actions toward sustainable models where the [activities] of the organic food trade becomes consistent with the principles of sustainability.
Nate Schlachter
To conduct our businesses in a way that meets the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs….We embrace the challenge to move our operations and actions toward sustainable models where the [activities] of the organic food trade becomes consistent with the principles of sustainability.
Nate Schlachter
SFTA follows the framework of the Natural Step to define Sustainability
Introduction to SFTA & Sustainability
Systems Conditions
Sustainability is Systems thinking
Introduction to SFTA & Sustainability
the biosphere
society
Understanding our system?
Introduction to SFTA & Sustainability
Future?PresentPAST
declining eco-system
services & stories of meaning
Increasing demand for eco-system
services & stories of meaning
Future!PresentPAST
How do we stop the trends lines from crossing and expand the funnel forevermore?
how do we define SUCCESS (therefore
Sustainability) within our system?
Introduction to SFTA & Sustainability
In a sustainable society, nature is not subject to systematically increasing:
1. concentrations of substances extracted from the earth’s crust,
4. People are not subject to conditions that systematically undermine their capacity to meet their needs.
2. concentrations of substances produced by society,
3. degradation by physical means,
Introduction to SFTA & Sustainability
Cycles of nature
Slow geological cycles (volcano eruptions and weathering)
Slow geological cycles (sedimentation and mineralization)
Closed system with respect to matter1) Nothing disappears2) Everything disperses
Open system with respect to energy
« Photosynthesis pays the bill »
Sustainability is about the ability of
our own human society to continue indefinitely within
these natural cycles
http://www.naturalstep.org/
How humans influence cycles
Extract large flows of materials from the Earth’s crust
Introduce persistent compounds foreign to nature
Physically inhibit nature’s ability to run cycles
Create barriers to
people meeting their basic needs worldwide
http://www.naturalstep.org/
Therefore in a Sustainable Society…
We must live within the boundaries of the 4 system conditions.
Take, Make, Maintain, Respect
Introduction to SFTA & Sustainability
System Condition - Take
Reduce and ultimately eliminate our dependence on nonrenewable resources such as fossil fuels, metals and minerals.
Use renewable resources whenever possible
Pay attention to what we take from the earth
Introduction to SFTA & Sustainability
System Condition – Make
Reduce and ultimately eliminate our dependence on persistent chemicals and our use of man-made, synthetic substances.
Use biologically safe products whenever possible - safe for human health and the health of other species
Pay attention to what we make & leave in the atmosphere, lithosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere of the earth
Introduction to SFTA & Sustainability
System Condition – Maintain
Reduce and ultimately eliminate our degradation of and encroachment on nature (e.g., land, water, wildlife, forests, soil, etc.)
Protect natural ecosystems whenever possible
Maintain biodiversity
Introduction to SFTA & Sustainability
System Condition – Respect
Support people’s capacity to meet their basic needs fairly and efficiently.
Treat people with dignity and purchase materials that are produced using this principle whenever possible.
This condition refers to social justice and human rights as an integral part of sustainability
Respect the rights of all people, both local and distant
Introduction to SFTA & Sustainability
Bringing it all together
Introduction to SFTA & Sustainability
The Natural Step – Defines sustainability and sets pathway to operate within the 4 system conditions
The SFTA Declaration of Sustainability – Influenced by the Natural Step outlines sustainability for the organic food trade.
Your business – How does your company currently violates the 4 systems conditions and how can you change your business to operate differently
Reporting – Tracking and measuring your business based on the 11 declaration areas to show improvement over time.
Thank you for becoming a memberwww.sustainablefoodtrade.org
Phone: (413) 624-6678
Katherine DiMatteo, Executive Director
Sandra Marquardt, Director of Communications
Lisa Spicka, Director of Education
SFTA Full Member Orientation