What We Do For The Environment

Here at Fruit For The Office, we are committed to creating business growth whilst ensuring that the impact on the environment is minimised and that all activities are conducted safely by well-trained and qualified employees.

Since 2019, we have committed to a zero waste-to-landfill policy, ensuring that no waste generated by our operations ends up in landfills. All waste is either reused internally or disposed of through appropriate channels. Our approach emphasises the practice of re-using what we can, as long as it's fit for purpose and hygenic. For example, our baskets are reused and sanitised for deliveries. For things that cannot be reused, we dispose of appropriately to be recycled into something else. We optimise our systems and procedures so that we can collect as much waste as possible, though inevitably - some may be missed. This is why we ensure as much of our packaging is biodegradeable, by either using paper or card. Rarely, will you see us using plastics.

Furthermore, any additional cardboard boxes we acquire are sent back to New Covent Garden Market for reuse, effectively preventing them from entering the waste stream. You may have noticed this when receiving your milk in a repurposed banana box, originally used to transport bananas. We strive to repurpose these boxes to transport your milk and fruit baskets whenever possible. In addition, we collect your empty boxes whenever feasible, and we've recently reduced the size of our packaging to further minimize waste. For more details on our packaging practices and waste reduction efforts, you can read more here

Food waste is something that happens in the industry. From the 'bad apples' (quite literally) that slip through, to surplas fruit that may not last for a few more days, we implement difference approaches:

Bad Quality Fruit

The occassional bad quality fruit may slip into our warehouses. These are filtered out from packaged orders by our staff, and then later composted, contributing to a circular economy whilst reducing the environmental impact of organic waste. This practice not only minimises landfill waste, but also enriches soil health to support a sustainable agriculture.

Surplus Fruit

We keep a close eye on our stock control systems to ensure that we're buying as much as we need whilst reducing the amount of surplus that may be left over. Any surplus we may have is donated to City Harvest. This initiative will help provide nutritious food to those in need while reducing food waste. You can learn more about City Harvest here.

We are committed to reducing our energy consumption through several initiatives:

1. Energy-Efficient Appliances: We utilise energy-efficient appliances across our operations to reduce our carbon footprint.
2. Motion Sensor Lights: To minimise unnecessary energy use, we have installed motion sensor lights throughout our facilities, ensuring that lights remain on only when needed.
3. Team Awareness: We regularly raise awareness within our team about energy conservation practices, encouraging them to be mindful of their energy use both at work and at home

We prioritise working with suppliers who share our commitment to environmental responsibility. Our supplier practices include:

1. Local Sourcing: We source all goods from within the UK and EU whenever possible, with the exception of certain fruits like bananas, which cannot be grown locally.
2. Environmental Responsibility: We ensure that our suppliers are environmentally responsible, adhering to practices that minimize their ecological impact.
3. Minimizing Food Miles: To reduce our carbon footprint, we source from local suppliers whenever possible. For instance, our dairy supplier is located less than 3 miles from our operations. Additionally, we are situated on the same road as our major suppliers, further reducing transportation mileage.
4. Optimised Logistics: Our fleet operates within central London from Monday to Friday. We have a team that's constantly analysing delivery routes and fuel consumption, to ensure that they can optimise this routes as much as possible.

Our commitment to environmental sustainability is ongoing, and we are actively planning several initiatives to further reduce our impact:

1. Electric Fleet by 2030: We are working towards transitioning our entire delivery fleet to electric vehicles by 2030. This will significantly reduce our carbon emissions and contribute to cleaner air in the communities we serve.

We believe that sustainability is a journey best travelled together. If you have ideas on how we can further enhance our environmental efforts, or if you're part of a charity or organization that shares our commitment to sustainability, we’d love to hear from you.

We are always open to new collaborations, whether it's partnering with charities to donate surplus produce, working with environmental groups to reduce plastic pollution, or exploring innovative ways to reduce our carbon footprint - Your insights and initiatives could help us make an even greater impact.

To share your ideas or discuss potential partnerships, please get in touch with our team here. Together, we can work towards a more sustainable future for everyone.

This policy reflects our deep commitment to sustainability, recognising that our actions today shape the future we leave behind. By minimising our environmental impact across all aspects of our operations—from waste management to energy efficiency and responsible sourcing—we strive to be a positive force for the planet. We believe that every step we take towards sustainability, no matter how small, contributes to a healthier, more resilient world. Our ongoing efforts and future plans are driven by a sense of responsibility to our community, our customers, and the generations to come.