Melissa Baer’s Post

The confusion about what labels mean is really coming into focus. The cost to ethical brands is loss of trust and loss of sales ultimately. What will the cost to Fonterra be for this latest marketing effort? The truth is, no matter which trust mark you choose as a product owner or marketing professional in an ethical food, fashion, nutraceutical, cosmetics or furnishing company, you will have to demonstrate reasons to believe to your customers. (If they make their own regenerative program or they use another, either way, they will need proof and they will need to do the work in educating the consumer... this is just the life of an ethical brand marketer now.) You will need to find evidence points within your supply chain that back up the claims being made... you need evidence. Quality teams are being expanded instead of marketing teams, and this cost is only increasing. https://lnkd.in/gi4i5fDm

We believe in transforming lives through chocolate 🍫🌍 In this article, Marcela Jaramillo Asmar shares how our commitment to sustainability and regenerative agriculture is shaping the future of cocoa farming and premium chocolate production. Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/guibuBqd #Sustainability #EthicalSourcing #RegenerativeAgriculture

Why we are different then other brands - because we have a story and work hand in hand with our farmers since 1977 to maintain an integrity and traceability of each and every sustainable product. Read this article - Who we are and why we have established this niche brand LA MONK?

I have been put to this debate and compelling issue time and again, would like your opinion on the same- 🌱 Is Organic Really Meeting the Demand? As the organic movement gains momentum, a critical question arises: Does production keep pace with demand, or are we stretching the limits of what “organic” truly means? Organic farming, while sustainable, faces significant challenges: • Lower yields and longer cycles make it tough to scale. • High certification costs limit many producers from entering the market. • Global demand spikes test the authenticity of supply chains. This leaves us wondering: • Are we compromising on quality to meet rising demand? • Has organic become a luxury, accessible only to a few? • Can organic scale sustainably without losing its essence? In a world increasingly conscious of its choices, it’s time to dig deeper into what “organic” truly stands for. Food for thought—literally! What do you think? Can organic meet both its promise and the world’s appetite?

London-based material innovator Biophilica has announced its vegan leather alternative, Treekind, has received the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) 100% certified biobased product label. Treekind, which is a home-compostable, plastic-free leather alternative made from leaves is said to be the first UK vegan leather to receive the certification. The USDA BioPreferred Programme, which administers the certification, aims to increase the development, purchase, and use of biobased products. The process involves rigorous third-party verification and laboratory testing to confirm a product’s biobased content. Vernell Thompson from the USDA BioPreferred Programme commented: “Biophilica Ltd. joins an expanding list of businesses combating inaccurate marketing claims and the practice of greenwashing, while also contributing to a thriving bio-economy that decreases our reliance on petroleum.” Check out the full article: https://lnkd.in/gNmh6fcA #nextgenmaterials #circularfashion #fashionrevolution #sustainability #sustainablefashion #vegan #veganfashion #veganleather #futureoffashion #materialinnovation #sustainablematerials #plantbased #plantbasedleather #plantbasedfashion #innovation

It may surprise you to know that Organic Crew is still a vulnerable brand and there is a great task ahead to realise the full potential of this courageous organic label. We are a tiny drop in the giant retail ocean. A true underdog, some might say. Although this is confronting, I also see it as our superpower, especially with you, our passionate and loyal fan base, supporting us every step of the way. We need our fans more than ever, to continue growing this beautiful brand. Since acquiring OC 4 months ago, I have fully immersed myself in the business by bringing all functions in-house, from picking, packing and dispatching orders to customer service, marketing and website management, to name a few daily tasks. It's been imperative for me to get to know every aspect of the business before making decisions about the best path forward to ensure our long-term success. Organic Crew has the potential to become a retail leader in ethical, sustainable and responsible manufacturing and waste practices, but, we can't do it without you. Collectively we can become a force to be reckoned with, to authentically lead the way with respect and empathy and ultimately change the nature of retail. I know this is an enormous vision for such a small brand, but I happen to believe anything is possible with the right purpose and people behind it. Rest assured, every decision I make for OC is in alignment with our brand philosophy to provide luxury apparel without compromising people or the planet. Over the coming months we will be implementing new processes where we have found greater alignment, more efficiencies and new solutions that better support our philosophy. One such change is our new postage satchel for orders. We have aligned with Pollastic Satchels, which are made from 100% recycled ocean bound plastic pollution. Not only do they help clean up the planet, but they also support marginalised communities in Southeast Asia. Pollastic aligns perfectly with our philosophy to support both people and the planet. This is just the beginning though. Thank you to all of those passionate and caring souls who choose to support organic businesses. It's not an easy or simple road, but definitely one worth pursuing. It really does mean the world to all of us! 💛 https://lnkd.in/gSfDCHS2

Why, regenerative ag folks, are you reinventing the wheel? Embrace organic certification and improve upon it! Organic certification is the elephant in the regenerative agriculture room. Is it because of organic’s prohibition on using fossil fuel derived chemical inputs? Is it its market premium? Or is it because for some the regenerative ag is just a new opportunity to market diversify or to do pilots for inclusion in the annual report? No one wants to talk about Organic’s role or purpose in relation to “regenerative.” We saw this same playbook when corporate buyers and NGOs were setting up and hyping up “sustainable sourcing” standards and certifications. These ultimately backfired because it became clear that internalizing externalities couldn’t be done while maintaining price parity. So for big ag “regenerative” is another attempt to seek the proverbial win-win: internalized costs at no cost to them. We hear folks say regenerative is about outcomes and organic is about practices. But practices drive outcomes. You can’t separate the two. And different practices with have different directional and magnitude impacts on outcomes. This to me - defining regenerative as outcome based - is a cop-out to allow farmers to adopt less than practices because of costs which the market doesn’t wanna pay. “Organic” comes from the term “soil organic matter.” It requires cover cropping and crop rotations. It addresses and requires minimal tilliage. It is a legal regulation. It’s real! It’s already passed government hurdles. It has an established premium in the marketplace based on consumers willingness to pay to intern along some market externalities. And not one, including organic, is talking about a performance-based definition. Compliance based on implored contextual outcomes. That is a place we should start focusing on. Not new regen brands. #organic #regenerative #agriculture

The industry is experiencing a surge in demand for organic ingredients as consumers prioritize natural and sustainable products. This trend presents both opportunities and challenges for businesses, driving innovation in agricultural technology and product development. Evolving consumer behavior towards ethical and sustainable consumption is shaping the market dynamics, offering businesses the opportunity to differentiate and thrive in the evolving landscape. #organic_ingredients #industry #sustainable_products #consumer_behavior #agricultural_technology #innovation

Navigating certifications can bewilder even the most savvy retailer or shopper. Does the difference between organic or regenerative organic really matter? What does certified humane mean? Is non-GMO an important certification? But even for those who understand the ins and outs of the many certifications that crowd the natural and organic products industry, few know anything about the actual farms and agricultural practices that led to the certifications. The retail buyer might know the flour is Regenerative Organic certified, for example. She could understand that this means the farm or farms that supplied the brand engaged with agricultural practices that bolstered soil health. But chances are, she can’t picture the acres that grew the wheat or envision how their regenerative agricultural practices contributed toward environmental stewardship. Keep reading: https://utm.io/uhr4n Melissa Baer Backstory Douglas Brown #storytelling #marketing #supplychain #naturalproducts #cpgindustry #certifications

Being a consumer in today's market can be so confusing! 😫🛒 Organic, regenerative organic, certified humane, non-GMO—what does it all mean? With so many certifications, it’s tough for consumers to know what truly matters for #sustainability and health, but Backstory’s Prove platform can help! 💻 Created by tech farmer and CEO Melissa Baer, Prove helps farmers and brands showcase the unique practices behind their products and how they stand out from competitors. Through storytelling, Prove builds authentic connections between farms and consumers, making it easier to understand what’s behind the label when you’re shopping in-store. 😄🛍️ What #certifications do you look for when buying #NaturalProducts? Share your thoughts in the comments below! 🌱💬 Learn more about this game-changing #Agritech in the New Hope Network feature 👉 https://lnkd.in/gTRyPXj9 Michael Fuller Ruth Macleod #SeeTomorrowFirst #Organic #ConsumerHealth