Climate Change Data

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Employee well-being
• Community development
• Sustainable sourcing
• Environmental sustainability
• Product quality

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced water usage per square foot of processing consistently throughout 2015
• Approximately 40% of electric power came from solar power

Social Achievements

• Implemented an employee stock option plan, making 100% of full-time employees owners or soon-to-be owners
• Increased wages to above the Vermont living wage for all employees
• Offered a comprehensive suite of employee benefits (medical, dental, vision, EAP)

Governance Achievements

• Became a Vermont Benefit Corporation, legally requiring consideration of social and environmental impact in business decisions

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Reduced beef supply from Pineland Farms
• Ceased sourcing from a local pork farmer due to regulatory enforcement action
• Fluctuations in carbon footprint due to sales, construction, and expansion of refrigerated space

Mitigation Strategies

• Working with DuBreton to increase HFAC-certified meat purchases
• Expanding manufacturing facilities to meet demand and increase capacity for local farmers
• Expected improvement in carbon footprint metrics with increased throughput, sales, and operating efficiency

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Sourcing meats raised without antibiotics or added hormones
• Partnering with local and regional vendors for high-quality ingredients
• Using certified humanely-raised meats whenever possible

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: Vermont Benefit Corporation standards

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Environmental responsibility
• Product quality
• Employee ownership
• Compensation and benefits
• Community engagement
• Workplace safety

Environmental Achievements

• More than 60% of electric power used came from solar power generated in Vermont.
• High-efficiency smokers reduced energy requirements by more than 10% compared to conventional equipment.
• Water usage per square foot of processing dropped consistently throughout 2016 through conservation programs.
• Achieved 68% of packaging mass with >30% recycled content and 73% recyclable packaging mass.

Social Achievements

• Increased average manufacturing hourly wage to $16.39 from $15.01.
• Offered subsidized shares in a community supported agriculture (CSA) program to employees earning under $20.00 per hour.
• 100% of full-time employees granted stock options within 6 months of probationary period.
• All employees paid above the Vermont living wage.
• Health plan participation rates: 62% Medical, 52% Dental, 51% Vision.
• Provided processing services to more than 25 local farms.

Governance Achievements

• Certified by B-Lab® as a B-Corp® in May 2016.
• Transitioned entire product portfolio to 100% meat sourced without antibiotics and added hormones, and produced without added sodium nitrite.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Increased injuries in the second half of 2016.
• Slight decline in processing services in the closing quarter of 2016.
• Change in finished product mix reduced purchase volume of some regionally sourced ingredients.

Mitigation Strategies

• Implemented an intensive work safety program resulting in an injury-free streak of over 100 days.
• Continued to offer processing services to support local farmers.
• Continued to explore new sources, ingredients, and potential vendors.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Sourcing meats raised without antibiotics or added hormones.
• Purchasing from farms certified by Global Animal Partnership® or Humane Farm Animal Care®.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: B Corp

Certifications: B Corp

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Environmental responsibility
• Product quality
• Employee ownership
• Compensation and benefits
• Community engagement
• Workplace safety

Environmental Achievements

• More than 60% of electric power used came from solar power.
• High-efficiency smokers reduced energy requirements by more than 10%.
• Significant hot water savings from reduced cleaning operations after exiting refrigerated meats.
• Improved water efficiency.
• Reduced solid waste production per dollar sold.
• Increased use of recycled/recyclable packaging.

Social Achievements

• 100% employee ownership.
• All employees earned at or above the Vermont living wage.
• Comprehensive employee benefits program (medical, dental, vision, EAP, voluntary life, accident, critical illness).
• 100% placement rate for employees laid off due to product line shift.
• Provided processing services to over 25 local farms.
• Proactively sourced ingredients from regional and local suppliers.

Governance Achievements

• Acted in accordance with Benefit Corporation standards of conduct (as per Benefit Director).

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Increased competition in meat snack and meat product categories.
• Product line shift away from refrigerated meats resulting in employee layoffs.

Mitigation Strategies

• Focused efforts on shelf-stable meats to maintain competitive edge.
• Proactively assisted laid-off employees in finding new employment.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Sourcing from regional and local farms and aggregators.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: B Corp

Certifications: B-Corp certified by B-Lab®

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Employee well-being
• Community engagement
• Environmental responsibility
• Product quality
• Sustainable sourcing
• Workplace safety

Environmental Achievements

• More than 60% of electric power used came from Vermont solar power.
• High-efficiency smokers reduced energy requirements by more than 10%.
• Reduced water usage due to exiting refrigerated meats business.
• 13% improvement in dollar sales per metric ton of CO2 vs. 2017.
• Improved solid waste production efficiency, creating less waste per dollar sold.
• Increased use of recycled or recyclable packaging.

Social Achievements

• Continued to offer a full suite of employee benefits (medical, dental, vision, EAP).
• Paid wages above the Vermont living wage for all employees.
• Average production employee wage increased to $18.26/hour.
• 100% of full-time employees granted stock options.
• Provided alternative employment opportunities for employees during slow production periods.
• Received a grant from the Vermont Training Program to enhance employee skills.
• Processed meats as a service for local and regional farmers.

Governance Achievements

• Continued operation as a Vermont Benefit Corporation.
• Maintained a primary and permanent office and manufacturing presence in Vermont.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Increased competition in the meat snack category.
• Maintaining employee retention in a low-unemployment environment.

Mitigation Strategies

• Focused on optimizing and driving growth of shelf-stable meat snack business.
• Increased wages to attract and retain employees.
• Implemented robust safety training programs and policies.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Sourcing of ingredients from regional and local farms and aggregators.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: Vermont Benefit Corporation

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Grass-fed beef sticks