"If we lose the forests, we lose our only teachers." -Bill Mollison. Baobab Foods is committed to creating a healthy environment, on a local, regional and global level, one of ecological and socioeconomic abundance and prosperity, through environmentally sound business practices. Using business as a vehicle for good, we work to protect biodiversity and create lasting socioeconomic opportunity in southern Africa. This is done by developing markets and strong customer relations for plant-based foods from the region, to share with the world. As the largest producer of baobab fruit in the world, we continually work to promote the incredible nutritional aspects, functionality and inspiring story of the baobab fruit of the baobab tree. All our baobab fruit is wild-harvested in rural communities in southern Africa from the ancient baobab tree. These trees can live to be over 2,000 years of age. As such, by creating markets for baobab fruit and other baobab products, this creates a culture of stewardship of these amazing trees. Baobab trees are keystone species in the savannah forests which they call home; they are an indicator species of a healthy, fully mature ecosystem. By creating (and growing) a market for baobab fruit and baobab oil: - This disincentivizes the chopping down of baobab trees for single-use inputs (fire wood, charcoal, lumber for plywood, etc.), and instead creates a perennial revenue stream for the local harvesting cooperatives we work with. - It allows these mature ecosystems and the flora and fauna that call it home, to continue to thrive in a place of abundance, not scarcity. - The extensive root systems of baobab trees allow for water retention in the soil, preserve and protect precious topsoil from erosion - No pesticides, insecticides or fungicides are used in production - No irrigation water is used in production- only natural rainfall - No topsoil is disturbed on site- no rowcropping, leaving the local microbiome of the soils and earth undisturbed and intact - Slow the desertification process along many of the edges and frontlines of deserts. Beyond the tree, Baobab Foods does and will continue to manage our business practices that minimize our environmental impact. This includes, but is not limited to: - Minimal processing; baobab fruit is a raw, organic fruit; no chemicals used in production - Comply with existing environmental regulations - Assess and reassess our environmental performance and seek out ways to improve - Reduce pollution, emissions, and waste - Reduce the use of all raw materials, energy and supplies - Work to use and incorporate all byproducts of production, minimizing downstream waste - Raise awareness and encourage participation of the general public on pressing environmental issues our company and employees care about - Participate in discussions about environmental issues- both locally and globally - Reduce impacts of transportation with our employees (work from home, carpooling, public transportation) - Monitor progress and review performance Our business begins and ends with the baobab tree. As an inherently low-impact agricultural product, it is our goal to have a positive impact on the local and global community alike. Partnering with Climate Neutral to measure our carbon footprint and to get to carbon neutral was a no brainer, as it aligns with our company values, as well as many of our clients' values. We are excited to join the growing Climate Neutral community of like-minded organizations who tackling some of the most critical environmental challenges we face here in the early 21st century.