April is a big month for companies in the natural products industry. There are no shortage of Earth Month activations for companies to engage staff, customers, or the wider community. I hope you'll consider one more SIMPLE yet powerful action to help close out Earth Month. You can ensure that the Farm Bill has strong climate provisions by signing your company on in support of the COVER Act—a bill that rewards farmers for growing cover crops and building soil health. Sign here to let Representative Casten, the COVER Act sponsor, know that your business supports the bill. Rep. Casten, and those working to incorporate the Act into the Farm Bill, will use this list to demonstrate to other lawmakers the support from the business community for the COVER Act. It takes one minute to sign! 

Last week, our Board of Directors gathered in Boulder for a three-day strategic planning retreat. It was the first time our new Board was together in person, and it was incredible to experience their depth of expertise, insights, collective vision for the future of the Climate Collaborative. We left our time together more energized than ever before about the work ahead and how we can deepen industry wide collaboration. To help close our retreat, we each wrote down an offering to the group. I'd like to leave you with one offering for our wider community of collaborators, partners, and supporters. 

May we continue to see the power and potential of transformation in ourselves, our industry, our economic system, our society and in each other.

In community,

Caitlin

Virtual Ticket: Food Waste Solutions Summit, May 16-18

Presented by ReFED, the Food Waste Solutions Summit is the premier food waste event of the year — bringing together food businesses, funders, solution providers, innovators, policymakers, nonprofits, and more to drive the adoption of food waste solutions.

Food waste is a problem that can be solved, and that’s what the Food Waste Solutions Summit is all about. Featuring two full days of programming — panels, working sessions, field trips, networking events, innovator demos, and more — this is our chance to align efforts and get motivated for the work ahead.

United Natural Foods Launches Climate Action Partnership to Encourage Suppliers to Set Validated Climate Goals

UNFI announced the launch of its Climate Action Partnership to encourage its suppliers to make credible climate commitments. The program builds on UNFI’s Climate Action Hub, which was developed in partnership with the Climate Collaborative, a nonprofit organization with a mission to catalyze bold climate action within the grocery industry, and offers UNFI suppliers a variety of tools and resources to innovate and scale climate solutions across the food system.

ReFED Releases New Food Waste Estimates and Calls for Increased Action by Food System

ReFED has released new estimates on the extent, causes, and impacts of food loss and waste in the United States, as well as an updated analysis of the solutions needed to fight it. The findings represent a stark call to action for food businesses, funders, policymakers, and other food system stakeholders to dramatically ramp up the investments, operational changes, and policy shifts that are critical to cutting the amount of food going to waste in the country. 

New Seasons Market, Dairy Co-op Team on Regenerative Agriculture

New Seasons Market and Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA), a dairy cooperative, have teamed up for a regenerative agriculture project to sequester carbon and improve ecosystems on farms. 

Pollution Harms People of Color the Most. How Biden's New Office Plans to Change That

As part of an executive order, President Joe Biden is creating an Office of Environmental Justice that recognizes that 'racism is a fundamental driver of environmental justice.' As part of an executive order, the new office will coordinate environmental justice efforts across the federal government. The order presses agencies to close gaps in data and use scientific research to understand and prevent the damage to people's health brought by pollution. 

Organic Trade Association Announces 2022 Leadership Award Recipients

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) announced its four outstanding organic visionaries with its 2022 Organic Leadership Awards.  Recognizing their commitment and stewardship to supporting and advocating for organic on their farms and in their communities, advancing organic solutions to fight climate change, and addressing social needs and responsibilities, the trade association will celebrate these exemplary individuals during Organic Week next month. Congratulations to Nicole Rakobitsch of CROPP/ Organic Valley, Seth Goldman of Eat the Change, and David Oien of Timeless Seeds!

Traditional Medicinals Announces First Ever BPI-Certified Compostable Tea Wrapper

The botanical wellness company's compostable wrapper is driving innovation towards sustainable, plastic-free packaging. With a commitment to create a sustainable packaging roadmap that reduces the use of plastic, the company has also joined the One Step Closer to Zero Waste Campaign, a campaign for action and inspiration to reduce and/or eliminate single use plastics in products, packaging, and personal lives. 

Share Your Good News With Us!

In this new section of our newsletter, we want to share out climate-related progress, announcements, and good news from our community in action. Send us an email at [email protected] to contribute to next month's section.

If you haven't already made a commitment to Climate Action please visit the Climate Collaborative website and check out the nine areas in which your company can make a commitment to bold climate action.