Pebbly Path

Our Sustainability Framework

• Emissions & Key Environmental Issues

  What is your company doing to reduce your emissions or combat key environmental issues (e.g. waste (packaging, end of life product strategy or recycling), biodiversity, land use, water, chemical use, energy use, and natural resource use etc.)?

  Pebbly Path is located in regional NSW. You wouldn't know it now, but we have seen drought, we have been on limited water supply, and we know how important water conservation is. We are fully self-sufficient in water supply, and do not use any town water services, or bore water - it's all natural rain water, caught in our tanks and in the dam on our property. We reduce chemical use through the use of eco-friendly products such as Zero Co for all our cleaning needs, as they share a similar sustainability ethos. Packaging - see "materials" section. All our shipping materials are recyclable cardboard, and are often reused boxes that we have received our own deliveries in! Same goes for any packing fillers or bubble wrap etc - all reused! Plus, compostable packing tape from Buy Eco Green. We are having solar panels installed in 2023, with a view to minimising our energy footprint.

• Materials

  How are the products your company offers made from environmentally friendly materials (e.g. recycled, organic materials)?

  Not only does excess packaging increase the price of the final product, but it's so wasteful. Why pay for unnecessary throw-away packaging, when you could eat that money instead?! (via the product itself!) So, our rocky roads are packaged in simple but elegant cellophane and a box. The plant-based cellophane is 100% home compostable and fully biodegrades in just 12 weeks, from Buy Eco Green. The box is made from 100% recycled cardstock, printed with soy-based inks, and is finished with a light varnish, rather than a plastic coating. This means that it is 100% recyclable OR compostable after use, and will not break down into ANY microplastics! It's so simple!

• Supply Chain

  Do you partner with ethical factories that meet international labor standards? What processes have you implemented to make your supply chain more sustainable?

  All our chocolate is sourced from companies with the Rainforest Alliance, and Fair Trade certifications. Our local ingredients are from reputable family farms in NSW. Actual manufacturing of the product is made in my own home, so staff have a happy and superior work environment. Our boxes are sourced from a printing press in QLD, and as such, meet international labor standards. Our commitment to sourcing local ingredients and suppliers also means that we reduce our carbon footprint and our use of plastics, through reduced shipping distances, and buying in bulk.

• Community Initiatives

  How does your company give back to the community (e.g. financial donations, volunteering, partnerships etc.)?

  We are proudly official sponsors of LIVIN. We have committed to quarterly donations from Pebbly Path to the organisation to help them raise awareness and educate young people about mental health, through their LIVINwell program. Raffles: Pebbly Path's raffle initiative raised over $3000 cash for Doctors without Borders. Our initiative compiled a range of Australian businesses who all donated prizes to a major raffle, and sold tickets online. It was a huge success. Donations: we regularly donate products to local schools, community groups, and charities (such as the McGrath foundation, Jeans for Genes, RUOK day), to support their fundraising efforts.

• Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

  How has your company made a commitment to achieve and maintain inclusion & diversity (e.g. Gender / Race / Ethnicity / National Origin / Sexual Orientation / Religion / Disability / Age)?

  While we only have 2 casual employees, they are both primary caregivers. They are able to nominate their work days and hours, and we are fully flexible with other commitments such as family commitments, personal beliefs, cultural days, and their wish to participate or not participate in "National/State Holidays". When a job advertisement is released, we are very specific about an inclusive workplace that values individualism and does not discriminate in any way.

• Circular Models

  How does your circular model or circular initiative work?

  We strive to maintain a circular model primarily in our shipping methods. We re-use or re-purpose boxes for shipping, box fillers such as hex wrap, and we re-use bubble wrap. These items are used to ship our products to both direct customers and wholesale stockists. We also repurpose old invoices and packing slips to make our notepads for use in the office. If there are ever any items available to repurpose or reuse, we are always looking to do that.

• Service Offering