Our Sustainability Policy

Sustainability is at the core of Collectiv Food's purpose and growth. As a new-generation food distributor, we are committed to transforming an outdated and polluting wholesale industry by making responsible sourcing, transparency, and efficiency the norm. Our Sustainability Policy sets out how we work with our people, producers, and professional kitchens to reduce environmental impact, support fair and informed supply chains, and create long-term value.

Through a strong focus on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles, we aim to drive positive change across our operations and partnerships—supporting thriving workplaces, resilient communities, and a healthier natural environment. This policy, reviewed annually and approved by our Board, applies to all Collectiv Food teams and contractors across the UK and France and underpins our ambition to help shape a better food future.

1. Introduction 

Collectiv Food defines itself as the representative of a new generation of distributors, working with professional kitchens and producers, to meet the challenges of the supply circuits of today and tomorrow. Our activity is based on several pillars: transparency and traceability of sourcing; dialogue between producer and restaurateur; farm-to-restaurant logistics; digitisation of processes.

Today, as a new entrant in an outdated, opaque and polluting food wholesale industry, Collectiv Food already stands out. Our customers, suppliers and partners see us as a conduit for being more sustainable whilst maintaining a cost effective procurement process and great quality products. The trend towards good quality food produced and delivered responsibly is set to only continue as increased consumer, government and investor concern about climate change, the environment and our health pushes businesses to adapt. This is also why we have enshrined sustainability in our company vision, our north star as we continue to grow and pave the way for our better food future.

To work towards our future, we recognise that a menu of solutions is needed. While we are already working on reducing our carbon footprint and understanding and communicating the impact of our supply partners, Collectiv Food's Sustainability Policy is focussed on clarifying our commitment to propelling the transition so desperately needed in our industry.

At the heart of this transition are our people and partners. That's why we are not only focussed on mitigating our environmental impact but also on building a workplace where everyone can thrive, feeling welcomed, safe, comfortable and heard while working with our supply and customer partners to support an informed food and drink supply chain that enables responsible choices; supporting businesses, communities and our natural environment, now and for the future.

Our Sustainability Policy states our commitment to work actively on ESG issues (both risks and opportunities), as we believe this will contribute to greater value-creation, decrease operational and financial risks, and contribute to a better world. 

Collectiv Food has adopted this Sustainability Policy (the "Policy") which is reviewed at least on a yearly basis, and is approved by the Board of Directors.  This Policy applies to all directors, staff and contractors working for Collectiv Food and covers activities in both the UK and France, as well as activities that are done remotely on the initiative of Collectiv Food. 

2. Our business ethics

Collectiv Food's Employee Handbook serves as a high-level guidance to our policies and outlines the key rules, expectations and values that govern our behaviour. It is based on sound business practice, responsibility and common sense and is intended to encourage a high degree of personal and professional integrity.

At Collectiv Food, our values include:

Sustainability is a reality

Whether kitchens are just starting their transition, if their customers want hard data, or investors want progress towards Net Zero, we're here to make sustainable kitchens the norm, faster.

Radical transparency

By sharing data, stories and connections like no other supplier, we demonstrate our commitment to truly changing the food supply chain.

Action over perfection

No-one created anything radical without failing. We commit to a culture of learning, failing and sharing, embracing uncertainty, where action is commended and failure is embraced.

Vested in your success

We work in an industry of marginal gains for maximal success. Sending trend reports, sourcing products, listening to our customers', suppliers' and team's needs: their success is our success. We're not just another supplier. We're a silent partner in our partners' success.

a. External suppliers and stakeholders 

Collectiv Food recognises that its impact would be limited without the input and support of its food and drink producers, customers, business partners and investors to drive forward a transparent and sustainable food supply chain. That's why, Collectiv Food strives to always consider the extent to which actions of its investors, business partners, suppliers and customers impact the company's ability to achieve its ESG objectives.

3. Scope

Our Sustainability Policy spans across three dimensions:

  • Environmental sustainability:building and developing societies within the limitations set by the planet without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs

  • Economic sustainability: securing long-term growth while minimising any negative consequences for ecological and social sustainability

  • Social sustainability: developing a society that values the equality of all people, and which places human needs and wellbeing in central focus.

In practice, our sustainability focus is an integrated part of the business and supported by the overall governance model and internal guidelines. For example, a member of the Collectiv Food executive team is responsible for embedding sustainability as our driver for growth. Sustainability commitments laid out in this Policy are also integrated in our business and performance management processes as part of supporting continuous improvements.

a. Environmental Sustainability

Collectiv Food will promote environmental awareness and sound practices in order to minimise adverse effects on the environment, and ensure alignment with the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises guidelines for Environment. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Complying with current environmental conventions and legislation.

  • Taking action to reduce greenhouse emissions and pollution, and limit the emissions of harmful substances and harmful waste.

  • Applying sound resource management, limiting the consumption of environmentally scarce resources and actively working with waste management.

Collectiv Food will ensure to apply the 'do not significant harm' principle through the whole life cycle of our products and services, by doing no significant harm to: 

  1. Climate mitigation: limiting activities that lead to significant greenhouse gas emissions;

  2. Climate change adaptation: not engaging in activities that lead to an increased adverse impact of the current climate and the expected future climate, on the activity itself or on people, nature or assets;

  3. Sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources: not engaging in activities that are detrimental to the good status or the good ecological potential of bodies of water, including surface water and groundwater; or to the good environmental status of marine waters;

  4. Circular economy (including waste prevention and recycling): not engaging in activities that lead to significant inefficiencies in the use of materials or in the direct or indirect use of natural resources;

  5. Pollution prevention and control: not engaging in activities that lead to a significant increase in the emissions of pollutants into air, water or land, as compared with the situation before the activity started;

  6. Protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems: not engaging in activities that are significantly detrimental to the good condition and resilience of ecosystems, or detrimental to the conservation status of habitats and species.

In support of the above commitment, Collectiv Food will establish and maintain monitoring of adherence to the Collectiv Food Employee Handbook and this Policy to assess and mitigate the impacts of operations, and promote transparency on the potential environmental, health and safety impacts of our activities in line with its values. This includes targets and objectives, a process for regularly monitoring these targets, and forms the basis for training/consulting with employees and other stakeholders.

b. Economic Sustainability

Collectiv Food aims to achieve long-term sustainable economic growth without compromising environmental and social Sustainable Development Goals. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Adhering to high standards of business ethics.

  • Developing the business with a long-term and sustainable mindset, and to not prioritise short-term gains to the detriment of long-term sustainability.

  • Operating the business with business ethics, sound business practice, accountability and impartiality.

  • Efficiently utilising economic and human capital resources

c. Social Sustainability

Collectiv Food aims to promote sound labour and human rights practices, including awareness and compliance with international human rights standards under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the principles and rights set out in the eight fundamental conventions identified in the Declaration of the International Labour Organisation on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the International Bill of Human Rights. This also includes implementing procedures to ensure the alignment with the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. This includes, but is not limited to:

1. Employee relations and labour rights 

Collectiv Food is committed to respecting labour rights and ensuring constructive employee relations across all workplaces. This includes: 

  • Complying with labour laws and encouraging competitive employee remuneration, safe and healthy work spaces in line with local legislation.

  • Considering employee working conditions such as minimum wages, working hours, health and safety of workforce

  • Promoting employees' right to collective bargaining

  • Positive community relations and involvement

  • Complying with applicable antitrust and competition laws

2. Diversity, equity and inclusion 

Collectiv Food is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment, providing equal opportunities for all, regardless of their gender, age, race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or socio-economic background as laid out in our Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Policy. Collectiv Food upholds a zero tolerance Policy against discrimination, harassment and bullying in all its forms, and a grievance mechanism for both food and drink suppliers as well as team members incidents to be reported. Collectiv Food has processes in place (e.g. Grievance processes for employees in the Employee Handbook and for food and drink suppliers in the Supplier Code of Conduct) to take appropriate action when needed, taking care to protect the safety and wellbeing of reportees.

3. Human rights

Collectiv Food aims to support the protection of all human rights, in accordance with internationally acknowledged standards. It will not knowingly engage directly or indirectly in any activity which harms the human rights of others. It will take appropriate and reasonable steps to ensure against this and take remedial action on any identified human rights issues which it is directly or indirectly linked to.

Accordingly, Collectiv Food will not accept the use of child labour nor forced labour in any of its direct or indirect operations. This includes our supply chain. All measures to prevent child labour shall be implemented taking into account the best interest of the child.

The approach of Collectiv Food to human rights due diligence builds on the principles outlined in the OECD Due Diligence guidance for Responsible Business Conduct. The Collectiv Food Employee Handbook lays out the company's Policy on whistleblowing and grievances, laying out the processes an employee should take as well as how the company takes measures to protect whistleblowers. Additionally, once a year, Collectiv Food conducts a human rights risk assessment based on the industries and geographies in which our food and drink suppliers operate. The risk assessment is presented to and evaluated by the company's Sustainability Function. All considerations for resolutions acknowledge that conditions around human rights risk can change, and the need to adjust practices for due diligence appropriately if material risks are identified by the annual review.

4. Corruption & bribery

Collectiv Food takes a firm stance against the use of bribery and corruption in all its forms, and does not directly or indirectly give or receive bribes as noted in its Anti-corruption and Bribery Policy. This includes not permitting hidden commissions or other similar benefits, and to not accept or give improper benefits in the forms of gifts, travel, entertainment or services. Collectiv Food works actively and systematically to prevent bribes and corruption to ensure alignment with 'Combating Bribery, Bribe Solicitation and Extortion' guidelines in the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises by informing and educating the organisation and its stakeholders in annual training. Internal controls are also maintained and updated based on the conclusions of the ongoing risk assessments.

Collectiv Food expects all business partners, including suppliers and subcontractors, to apply principles of responsible business conduct, including but not limited to the principles stated in this Policy. We include responsible business conduct clauses in all contracts with our food and drink suppliers in our Code of Conduct. We evaluate the business partner on their ability to meet the principles stated in this Policy, and we monitor compliance with the Code of Conduct through annual self-assessment and selective audits. 

5. Fair competition

Collectiv Food is committed to complying with both the letter and the spirit of the competition laws and regulations of the countries in which we operate. We are committed to treating fair competition as important elements of our oversight and risk management in line with the 'Competition' guidelines within the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. Our Fair Competition Policy sets out the principles and standards for fair competition and ethical behaviour, and provides a risk management strategy for ensuring that these principles and standards are effectively implemented and maintained at Collectiv Food. 

4. Supporting frameworks

To support the ESG principles mentioned above, Collectiv Food strives to operate in accordance with the:

As part of the journey to becoming B-corp certified, Collectiv Food's Board also implemented the required B Corp legal form, ensuring that social and environmental performance and consideration of all stakeholders are part of Collectiv's decision-making over time.

5. Approval and implementation 

This Sustainability Policy (the "Policy") is reviewed at least on a yearly basis, and is approved by the Board of Directors. The Board has the overall responsibility for sustainability and the CEO is responsible for reporting and following up on Collectiv Food's sustainability objectives. If the objectives are not met, Collectiv Food's CEO is responsible for taking action, and provides a summary of the compliance activities conducted under this Policy and any identified violations and remediations. 

This Policy is always kept publicly available. All employees and company agents, i.e., part-time, consultants, contractors, Board Members etc., acting on behalf of the company are expected to follow the principles and intentions stated in this Policy. Ongoing training and monitoring of the awareness of the Policy is provided at least annually and as part of onboarding new team members. 

Last reviewed: January 2026; Last updated: March 2023