Dear Customers
We have the pleasure of announcing the commencement of the
practical stage of our ethical auditing process. A little over a year ago a Santos
Ethic's Committee formed and began researching the ethical priorities of our
customers, shareholders and staff. Products that do not fulfill any of
the criteria we developed will be removed permanently from our order, and more suitable
replacements will be sought. Our customers will be assured of a high ethical benchmark and
will be able to shop confidently knowing that each product has been scrutinized.
This is a painstaking process that calls for the patience and support of our
customers and staff.
By making all our customers aware of the criteria, we
hope to enlist your support. You may be able to garner relevant product information where
we have been unable to do so and recommend more ethical replacement products to ones we
choose to remove. Also you may be part of the feedback system to the product companies
helping them achieve a higher ethical rating in what is becoming the future direction of
conscious consuming.
We look at the following:
Non-GMO ; Santos will not stock any product that has Genetically
Modified ingredients or packaging, even where it fulfills other criteria. We pay
particular attention to products with soy, corn or canola.
Palm oil ; Products containing palm oil must use ethically derived
palm oil that is certified organic , as the ethical status of
“sustainable palm oil” certifiers are industry funded and dubious.
Organic/Biodynamic ; Points are awarded for the organic/biodynamic
status of a product.
Product Miles ; Whole
products and ingredients. Points are awarded within our definitions of ‘local' as well
as the method of transportation if known. Products derived from and packaged within a 150
km radius are highly regarded. Where only an imported version of a product is available,
those with fair trade certification are preferred.
Eco
Packaging ; We grade packaging within the context of the needs of the product,
and give preference to packaging made using post consumer material, or recyclable product.
Health Merit ; A product may gain points if it
has exceptional health merit. A product may be removed if it has ingredients, particularly
chemicals and additives that are thought to be harmful to health.
Business conduct ; A product may gain points where the company has a
proven ethical business practice. (companies are invited to highlight their green and
other ethical policies and practices.)
Biodegradability
; In particular non edible items such as cleaning products must be biodegradable
and be non harming to the environment.
We
look forward to your support in this process of research and assessment.
Contact Santos
ethics Committee
Yours Sincerely
Santos Ethics
Committee
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