Coconut Bliss Sustainability Report 2016

Sustainability Report
June 2015 - May 2016

Greetings
It is with great delight that we present the First Annual Sustainability Report from
Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss! Our goal with this first report is to identify and define
our activated core values that support the principles of a sustainable work force and
business. This includes the following highlights:
Ingredient Integrity (Organic Certified, Non-GMO Verified, Kosher
Pareve, Vegan and Fair Trade Ingredients)
Blissful Giving (A Night of Bliss Fundraiser, Scoop for a Cause)
Office Sustainability (Remodeled to LEED Gold Standards, Recycling
Hub, Love Food Not Waste Composting Program, LED/Daylight Sensor
Lighting, High-Efficiency HVAC and Abundant Natural Light)
Blissful Culture (Generous Health Benefits, In-House Lunch Program,
Education, Volunteer Pay and a Buying Club)
As our Mission Statement asserts, “…we embody transparency, integrity and
respect for our employees and our business partners…” These attributes flow
through our decision-making processes, and put sustainability values at the heart
of our business paradigm.
We are dedicated, with heart and soul, to continuous improvement, and to a
business model that is not only sustainable but also regenerative for future
generations. With passion, education and conscious leadership, we intend to
model and inspire the changes we wish to see in the world. Our Annual
Sustainability Report serves as a touchstone for accountability and transparency,
and will continue to evolve with us and in service to the greater good.
With Reverence and Passion,
Kim Gibson Clark
President & CEO

Table of Contents
THE BEGINNING OF BLISS 4
BLISS TODAY 5
WHY WE DO IT 6
RECOGNITION 7
INGREDIENT SOURCING 8
BLISSFUL GIVING 12
BLISS HQ 13
BLISSFUL CULTURE 14
BLISS PRODUCTION 15
SUSTAINABILITY MISSION STATEMENT 16
Company Mission Statement:
We create blissful experiences through exceptionally delicious,
organic, plant-based desserts that our customers can trust. We
embody transparency, integrity, and respect for our employees and
our business partners. We are an example of how business can be
abundant, inspiring and kind to the Earth and all beings.

The Beginning of Bliss
Coconut Bliss founders Luna Marcus and Larry Kaplowitz met at a permaculture
educational center in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, where they found an
inspiring social environment dedicated to sustainable lifestyle practices. After
giving up dairy, they found themselves unsatisfied with the ice cream alternatives
that were available at the time. The soy and rice-based ice creams left them wanting
more, both in texture and integrity of ingredients.
Inspired by the many uses of coconut milk in other cuisines, Luna and Larry
decided to try it as a base for ice cream. Working with a simple, hand-crank ice
cream maker purchased from a thrift store for $1.50 they came up with the
perfect recipe: organic coconut milk sweetened with organic agave syrup. With
their new dairy-free, soy-free and gluten-free ice cream base, they began to experiment
with unique flavor combinations.
After months of tasting parties for friends and neighbors, they saw great
potential in their product. It was time to expand on the idea and share it with
the world. In 2005, Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss® began selling hand-packed
pints to local natural food stores.
Based in Eugene, Oregon, Luna and Larry transformed their idea into a
successful business with products available throughout the U.S., Canada,
Germany and Australia. Coconut Bliss® can be found in most natural food
stores and a growing number of conventional grocers, as well as scoop shops
and smoothie bars.
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Bliss Today
To this day Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss®
is committed to creating the finest coconut
milk ice cream on the planet. Our products
are sold across the United States, Canada,
Germany and Australia.
Carrying on the tradition of quality and integrity, all of our products are
CERTIFIED ORGANIC and NON-GMO PROJECT VERIFIED, our cocoa,
coffee and chocolate are FAIR TRADE CERTIFIED, and 16 of our 19 flavors are
CERTIFIED KOSHER PAREVE.
Coconut Bliss is happy to support the
sustainable foods movement
through membership in:
Sustainable Food Trade Association
Organic Trade Association
Green America
Provender Alliance
Plant Based Foods Association
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Why We Do It
Coconut Bliss' mission includes the statement,
“We are an example of how business can be abundant,
inspiring and kind to the Earth and all beings."
In order to achieve this, we embrace the
business model of the triple bottom line:
People, Planet, and Profit.
We take care of our people first, knowing that a business doesn't run without people, and a
business doesn't run well when its people are not well cared for.
We honor the planet that provides the resources for our products by using only certified organic
ingredients that are ethically produced. In turn, we thoughtfully craft these ingredients into divinely
creamy dairy-free coconut milk ice cream that tastes delicious and meets many dietary needs.
In addition to offering this amazing product in 19 different flavors, we grow our company by
forging relationships with our customers through exceptional customer service, and working to
provide meaningful experiences with a product and brand they can trust.
Our Team
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Recognition
Green America is one of the oldest
environmentally focused non-profits in the
country. The People & Planet Award recognizes
businesses for their dedication to a green
economy: a bottom line that includes protecting
workers, communities, and the environment.
RE:think Business Certification recognizes
business' positive impact on our environment and
community. The RE:Think certification is awarded
to businesses who have demonstrated conservation
and efficiency actions across five categories:
Materials and Waste Management, Energy Efficiency
and Conservation, Water Conservation, Water
Quality, and Purchasing.
The City of Eugene, Oregon recognizes
businesses who are Bring RE:Think certified
with the Mayor’s Bold Steps Award. As a triple
bottom line business, Coconut Bliss is proud to
have qualified as a Bold Steps Award Finalist.
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Ingredient Sourcing
We Believe in Organic!
For Coconut Bliss, organic certification has always been a top priority. It is
the only way to ensure every ingredient is farmed in harmony with nature. The
prodigious use of synthetic pesticides in conventional farming damages the
life-giving biodiversity of the soil, contaminates groundwater, and is harmful
for the farm workers who apply these chemicals. Buying organic ingredients
supports the farmers who maintain our healthy soils and reduces our exposure
to petroleum-based pesticides.
It is important to note that purchasing certified organic products is the most
reliable way to avoid Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). The USDA
National Organic Program (NOP) has never allowed the use of GMO seeds,
and requires controls to mitigate GMO drift.
100% of our
products are
CERTIFIED
ORGANIC!
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We Love our Supplier
Partnerships!
One of our longest standing supplier relationships is with the people who produce
our certified organic coconut milk in Thailand. The family-owned organic coconut
farm and processing facility is home to groves of lush coconut trees and a biodiverse
landscape. Luna & Larry went to Thailand to see the farm and connect with the people
when they first realized they were going to need a large, steady supply of organic
coconut milk. In 2011, several members of the Bliss crew visited the farm and facility
again. We continue to be impressed by and appreciate their dedication to organic
farming practices and the good care provided to their employees.
Another source for our organic coconut milk is here in Springfield, Oregon, just a
quick trip from our office in Eugene. We teamed up with a local organic juice
producer to turn shredded coconut from farm cooperatives in the Philippines into
fresh, premium coconut milk. This venture has helped secure our supply of organic
coconut milk, created a new product line for an Oregon business, and increased
revenue for our local economy.
Our commitment to organic ingredients led us to Maisie Jane's California Sunshine
Products as we were sourcing almonds for one of our new 2015 products, Coconut
Almond in Chocolate bars. In addition to being certified organic, their farming
practices promote and protect the health of the bees that pollinate the orchard. This
includes planting native foliage, grasses and flowers, which provides the bees a safe
habitat while attracting them to the almond trees. Their partnerships include the
Xerces Society and other research facilities working to establish industry practices that
are less harmful to our endangered pollinators.
We have found that through our diligent and mindful ingredient procurement, we
have a far-reaching and positive impact on our global food system and the
environment.
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Non-GMO Verified
All Coconut Bliss products are verified free
of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) by
the Non-GMO Project. As an organically
certified product our ingredients cannot come
from GMO sources, but by being Non-GMO
Project Verified we support the efforts of the
Non-GMO Project to raise awareness of the
hidden truth about GMOs in our food supply.
In 2014, GMO crops in the U.S. made up 93
percent of all corn planted and 94 percent of
soybean acreage. Although GMO crops have not
been proven safe for human or animal
consumption, they show up in vast amounts of
processed foods, from corn syrup (regular, high
fructose, and solids) to soy in baby formula; all of
this unlabeled and with the majority of
consumers unaware.
100%
of our
products are
Non-GMO
PROJECT
VERIFIED!
The Non-GMO Project’s Product Verification
Program is the first and only system in the United
States designed to test if a conventional product
has met defined standards for the presence of
GMOs. These rigorous standards provide
third-party verification that the best practices of
GMO avoidance are in use, and include strict and
comprehensive traceability, segregation and
testing requirements.
Look for the USDA Organic seal or the
Non-GMO Project Verified logo to avoid GMO’s
in your family’s diet. We will continue to work
towards a future where we have informed choices
about the foods that sustain us, and the special
treats that make us smile.
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Fair Trade Certified
Ingredients
The farmers of cocoa and coffee typically
own < 5 acres of land and have little
negotiating leverage in a global market.
Without a collective voice, the farmers
and their families may be impoverished
for generations. The fair trade movement
empowers producers at the local level
by paying them fair wages for their labor,
improving their local living conditions,
and giving them a stronger voice in the
market. This is accomplished through
producer cooperatives who receive
training to deal directly with market
buyers and demand a living wage. To
certify as a Fair Trade cooperative,
portions of the farmers’ revenue must be
reinvested into the community. The
cooperative directs these investment
funds to more training, purchasing
equipment, building schools, and
healthcare programs.
Organic Fair Trade Dark Chocolate
Our cocoa, coffee, and chocolate are
all certified Fair Trade. We are proud to
be part of the fair trade movement that
supports these farmers and their
dedication to work and community.
Organic Fair Trade Cocoa and Coffee
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Blissful Giving
Philanthropy has always been a cornerstone of our business, which is
demonstrated through a generous donation program that supports
communities nation-wide and an annual, local community benefit and
fundraiser, A Night of Bliss. This is a lively and fun community
celebration and fundraiser featuring endless Coconut Bliss sundaes, live
music, silent auction, raffle, kids activities and more! A Night of Bliss is
our way of giving back to the community where we live and work.
We donate 5% of sales from our selling events to our Scoop for a
Cause program. These funds go directly to our A Night of Bliss
beneficiary. In 2015 our beneficiaries were awarded over $16,000
from the two programs combined.
Beyond Toxics works to guarantee environmental protections and health for
all Oregon communities and residents. We are proud to support the important
work they do. We value the long-term partnership built upon mutual
respect and care for the earth. It is our delight to have chosen Beyond Toxics
as our 2016 A Night of Bliss and Scoop for a Cause beneficiary.
YOUTH
From June 2015 - May 2016 we
donated .4% of sales to the following
organizational groups:
COMMUNITY
ENVIRONMENTAL
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Bliss HQ
In February 2016, Coconut Bliss headquarters moved to a new office. We worked with a local
architecture firm to remodel a former banquet hall into a space that our employees would find
comfortable and inspiring, while incorporating the latest sustainability measures. At the time of this
report, the points accumulated for LEED certification puts our office in the running for the GOLD
level certification. Some of the highlights are:
Energy savings is 34.5% better than ASHRAE Standard 90.1 (the LEED reference
standard). This was accomplished with Energy Star rated appliances and freezers, LED light
fixtures, energy efficient HVAC properly zoned to reflect space use type, and efficient
ventilation fans.
Lighting is 40% more efficient than ASHRAE Standard 90.1 (the LEED Reference
Standard). Lighting includes LEDs and sensors in offices, restrooms, and hubs.
Water use reduced 48% over baseline standards through high-efficiency dual-flush toilets
and sinks with sensors.
A recycling hub where materials can be divided into 12 different waste streams.
Compost is collected and picked up by the city of Eugene’s Love Food Not Waste program.
Windows enlarged and skylights added to allow in as much natural light as possible.
Every office equipped with bamboo-topped adjustable sit/stand desks and furnished with
a recycling bin and re-usable paper collection file.
Office copy paper and printed materials use recycled paper - 100% post-consumer fiber.
Covered, secure and convenient bicycle parking provided.
Beautiful outdoor space designed for eating, meeting or working out of doors.
Planters atop office dividers create an eye level green space and add to fresher air quality.
Alternative spaces provided for stretching or working, allowing a change in posture.
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Blissful Culture
Benefits
At Coconut Bliss we invest in our employees. We provide medical, dental and vision
insurance, paid at 100% for employees and dependents. We also offer a generous Paid
Time Off (PTO) benefit, as well as 401-K, holiday, jury duty, parental and bereavement
pay. For wellness needs not covered by health insurance, employees can take advantage
of our company’s Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) fund. Additionally,
Coconut Bliss offers Company Sponsored Education, a Paid Volunteer Program,
Buying Club and of course all the Coconut Bliss you can eat!
Perks
A unique employee benefit is our lunch program. Four days a week an organic,
vegetarian midday meal is prepared in-house by our talented chef. While employees
pay a nominal amount to cover the ingredients, the company pays the chef ’s salary.
Providing a nutritious, on-site lunch is a stress-reducer and a time-saver for our active
employees. It also brings our team together in an informal setting allowing inspiring
conversations to organically flow.
Work / Life
Coconut Bliss places an emphasis on employee work/life balance. Our employees
enjoy abundant and dynamic lives outside of the office, generous wages, and excellent
benefits. We summarize our working environment as collaborative, supportive,
playful and focused.
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Bliss Production
While the family-owned facility where 90% of
Coconut Bliss products are made is not new, it has
undergone substantial updates. Solar panels span
the entire roof of the warehouse, enabling them to
employ energy directly from the sun. All old-style
fluorescent, metal halide, mercury vapor, and
incandescent light fixtures have been replaced with
the latest energy efficient lighting options. New
T5 fluorescent bulbs have been installed in
warehouse areas and new LED fixtures are in
production areas to cut energy usage, while motion
detectors turn lights on and off as needed.
Addressing water quality, a decade ago they
installed a Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) unit that
removes dissolved solids from the effluent stream.
This makes the waste water cleaner, which eases
operations at the city’s water treatment facility. The
solid waste is then given to a nearby farm for their
compost.
Our Future
As we continue to grow, finding opportunities to
increase the availability of organic acreage is one
of our top priorities. We are exploring opportunities
with local and regional growers to address some of
our ingredient needs. Working with the OTA and
their farmer transition resources, we hope to bridge
the gap for growers who are interested in
transitioning to organic.
Another goal for 2017 is to actively measure and
record our emissions, energy and water usage. With
this data, we plan to set reduction goals for our
office energy and water usage as well as identify
opportunities to increase sustainability awareness
around our events and travel needs. We will seek to
continually improve our processes and practices with
each year.
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Sustainability Mission Statement:
Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss is dedicated to contributing
to a sustainable future for our community and the planet.
Our company culture encourages and supports sustainable
practices at all levels of our business. Our products are created
with thought and care, and environmental impact is at the
forefront of our decision making. We partner with companies
that are environmentally conscious to source certified organic
ingredients that are ethically produced. Our intent is
continuous improvement in our practices and business model.
coconutbliss.com
info@coconutbliss.com
Toll Free 844-305-5441
# shareyourbliss
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