Going for our Accreditations: Becoming a B Corp Caterer
Social Pantry is no stranger to social issues. Having been a notable ex-offender employer since 2015, it’s in the company’s DNA to go above and beyond and drive change where it is much needed. This is something I considered deeply when I came on board as their dedicated sustainability consultant in 2021. It’s why I think we’re a great fit! Being bold, impactful, and intentionally vocal is an approach we will adhere to as we embrace sustainability and all its many facets.
The food industry is a high-emission industry. It is also an industry vulnerable to unethical practices including issues around exploitative trade, pollution, animal welfare, food security, land insecurity, and forced displacement, to name a few. So often these issues can be buried in a matrix of greenwash, shadowy ownership, and unregulated supply chains. Here at Social Pantry, we want no part in that. We have been doing our utmost to green our operations throughout and consciously aligning ourselves with businesses and suppliers that share our values.
Social Pantry has a voice and the means to use our powers for good! We are at a critical moment in our history, and it is our goal to be an instrumental force in inspiring change across the food, events and hospitality industries. We want to show what is possible. Social Pantry has already seen the impact of simply beginning these conversations (and we are so appreciative of the support we have received so far). We are pleased to announce that we’ve decided to make our efforts official. Social Pantry applied to go through the assessment process to become B Corp certified!
The Reason Why
Of course we can continue on our sustainability journey without accreditation. However Social Pantry is really keen to make a globally recognised commitment and become part of a growing community of like-minded organisations. We’re not shy of external accountability because we really believe in the integrity of our sustainability values and practices. We will begin by using the B Impact assessment tool, which evaluates a company’s practices and outputs across five categories. These are governance, workers, community, the environment, and customers. We love how this acknowledges that sustainability is about people as well as planet. Social Pantry will simultaneously be undertaking evaluation for the ISO 14001 environmental standard, which will provide us with an internationally recognised framework for setting up an environmental management system (EMS) to reduce waste, and improve resource efficiency.
What This Really Means
Accreditation isn’t a tick-box exercise that you check off and then forget about. A big part of this process is maintaining our B Corp Impact score. Social Pantry needs to be rated between 80 and 100 and will therefore be reevaluated every three years. This provides accountability, and also factors in the fact that the sustainability sector is (thankfully) fast-paced, with higher standards and innovation an intrinsic part of how we optimise in the face of climate change. Having this trusted and recognised stamp of approval is great for consumers, clients, and patrons alike. You know that anyone certified will have been through this rigorous process. In short, the company you’re buying a service or product from is a good egg!
What next?
For most businesses the B Corp process can take up to 12 months, but this largely depends on the initial assessment. The initial assessment lets us know our baseline rating, and then provides a report of improvements and recommendations of practices to adopt. This cycle continues until we pass that all-important “80/100” mark!
Social Pantry is really looking forward to embarking on what we know will be a crucial yet rewarding journey. It has been so inspiring to see so many associates, brands, and businesses we use take similar steps, and we hope to be instrumental in positively influencing the industry.
What else?
Whilst we’re here, we’d also like to signpost another great initiative that we’ve been learning a lot from: the Future Food Movement. We would highly recommend anyone involved in food-related sectors to join the Future Food Movement as an ally and gain access to live expert panels, roundtables, and upskilling opportunities themed around pressing sustainability matters. Past discussions have focused on regenerative agriculture, climate-smart food, soil health and protein disclosure.
Community plays a huge part in generating and accelerating change. We would love to hear from you if you’ve been through this process, or are thinking about it. Social Pantry loves connecting and collaborating with eco-minded contemporaries. We’ll be documenting the process as we go, and we can’t wait to share it with you.
Want to learn a bit more about Nash, Social Pantry’s Sustainability Consultant? Read more, here.
