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Business is business. The name of the game is to make money and as much of it as you can. But there are some businesses that incorporate altruism into their bottom line. We call that good business and we want to celebrate those companies that give back. In our column, Altruism Inc. we introduce you to businesses that are using their profits to benefit other people and the planet.
What better way to start your day than by doing good? We're big fans of making the most of the morning and lending a helping hand can be as easy as munching on some granola.
That's if you choose your morning meal right - like say for example, spooning up a heaping bowl of Love Crunch (by Nature's Path) where every bag sold triggers an equal donation (of food or dollars) to a food bank - up to a million dollars annually.
It's all part of Nature's Path's Bite4Bite program, so munch away knowing that you're helping feed the hungry. Not a bad way to start the day.
Nature's Path's altruism doesn't stop with your breakfast. Their EnviroKids brand is also registered with 1% for the Planet. So far, parents feeding their kids a healthy, organic breakfast has resulted in over $1.6 million being donated to eco-happy organizations like Amazon Conservation Team, Australian Koala Foundation, Burns Bog Conversation Society, Defenders of Wildlife, The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, Green Kids, Island Wood and Lemur Conservation Foundation.
The cynics might say that these kinds of things are just for optics but Nature's Path really walks the walk when it comes to being accountable to the planet. They're committed to using organic ingredients and have been vocal supporters and adopters of Non-GMO Project Verified (volunteering to label their products because they have nothing to hide). In 2008, they signed the Sustainable Food Trade Association's declaration of sustainability - making the commitment to follow their guidelines.
If that's not enough to satisfy you, allow us to serve you a second heaping bowl of goodness. Nature's Path helped convert 2000 acres of Saskatchewan farm land to organic. They host charitable events called Compassion into Action to get more organic food into food banks. They help build community gardens through a grant program. Their actions toward being a zero waste company has resulted in diverting 92% of their waste from landfills - one of the many reasons they've been named to the list of Canada’s Greenest Employers multiple times.
Are you ready for the organic, non-GMO cherry on top?
Their choices have meant that over 204,000 lbs of chemical pesticides have been kept out of the soil annually.
How does a company like this come to be? It all started with a little vegetarian restaurant in Vancouver called Woodlands. It was opened by Arran Stephens in 1967. He soon followed up that venture by opening Canada's first natural food market. In 1984, Arran and his life partner Ratana continued trailblazing the natural health food industry by opening up Nature's Path. Thirty years later, the company continues to be family-run and is now the world's largest organic cereal manufacturer. All of that while putting people and the planet first.
Arran comes by his passion for giving back naturally. His parents raised him on an organic farm on Vancouver Island and taught him to "always leave the soil better than you found it."
We'd say he's doing just that and we, along with the planet, gratefully thank him.
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Valerie McTavish is a professional writer and video producer living ‘the good life’ in Kelowna, BC. She’s a long-time decision evader which she satisfies by letting a roll of the dice deliver her to spontaneous fun. Follow her adventures by chance at www.zufalladventures.com.
