Environmental and Social Policy

Our mission is all about reconnecting drinkers to Wild Earth (Feragaia’s translation) within themselves and each other. Feragaia is a radically authentic alcohol-free spirit that redefines what you think you know about alcohol-free. Our social and environmental policy is a huge factor in our decision-making process and is seen as integral to the long-term viability of our business. As part of our commitment, and as a purpose-driven organisation we strive to help restore and protect Wild Earth and bring a net positive impact to the world.

• Our employees receive a vocal education on how the business operates. Our purpose is central to how we measure success and is integrated into all elements of the business.
  
  
• We set our KPIs for environmental and social outcomes on an annual basis which are discussed in all board meetings.
  
  
• We support various purpose driven enterprises with financial contributions and using our platform to spread awareness of their messages. For example, McMillan Cancer Support, GreenSea Solutions, Protect Our Winters, NC500 and Seawilding.
  
  
• Supporting charitable organisations, including our frontline driver campaign that is focused on supporting key workers in the local area. See other examples of organisations above.
  
  
• Supporting environmental organisations, as an outward looking, purpose-driven enterprise we look to work with organisations that share out values. GreenSea Solutions Ltd is one such organisation that cultivates seaweed in Scotland.
  
  
• We have invested in seaweed lines that grow our botanicals and also educates people and helps them to take steps to help reverse climate change. Another such orgnaisation is Seawilding.
  
  
• We have eliminated all harmful chemicals from our manufacturing process. Our manufacturing process is low impact, chemical free and our botanicals are composted afterwards.
  
  
• Pioneering alcohol-free distillation, unlike most alcohol-free drinks we don’t use alcohol in the process. Our distillery made spirit is 0.0% as we believe this to be important if we want to achieve authenticity, transparency and premium.
  
  
• Our locally grown blackcurrant leaf, bay leaf, chamomile, lemon verbena and sugar kelp. Grown either by ourselves at Feragaia HQ in Fife or by local partners. These botanicals make up 64% of Feragaia’s total botanical mass.
  
  
• Strives to be champions of the local economy. We are committed to hiring locally and working with local suppliers and services to support the local community.
  
  
• Reducing carbon emissions. Ambition is to become carbon negative as we grow our business. Currently, carbon is a key factor in our strategy going forward and the partnerships we start. We include a guide to reducing carbon in our employee handbook.
  
  
• We avoid air shipments and look for groupage transportation (shipping with other things at same time) to make sure every vehicle is used to full capacity. Delivery on foot for local orders in Edinburgh, Fife or Argyll and the western Isles.
  
  
• We minimise the use of high emission vehicles in favour of cleaner, environmental and delivery. Our impact is low currently, but as we grow, clean logistics will be a key area for us live up to our commitment.
  
  
• Feragaia has a work from home policy to encourage all employees to apply environmentally conscious decisions in the virtual office.
  
  
• We have a companywide recycling policy and adhere to local recycling regulations.
  
  
• As part of our zero-waste commitment nothing goes to landfill, we use recycled and recyclable materials, have a low impact manufacturing process and we repurpose and reduce waste where possible.
  
  
• As part of our environmental ambitions and sustainable development, we are using the B Corp process to implement the foundations of an Environmental Management system, of which we will build on annually.
  
  
• Encourage sustainable practices internally and externally. We require suppliers to fill out our social and environmental questionnaire and review and update our policies.
  
  
• Choosing suppliers on shared values around the best environmental practices and ethical standards which we review through our supplier survey. As we are still a small business it is not currently feasible - but a goal we would like to work towards is making sure our supply chain is held accountable.
  
  
• Look for quality, transparency, and certification when reviewing our suppliers. This is communicated in our supplier agreements which states the expectations for Feragaia of working with our suppliers such as the traceability and go to acceptable lengths to compensate and look after their workforce.
  
  
• Developing lasting relationships with partners and suppliers tracked through tenure - we work to build lasting relationships with suppliers we can trust.
  
  
• We do not currently carbon offset, but we proactively making purpose part of our business practice. For example, our partnership with GreenSea Solutions and ‘Wrack Friday’ activity with Seawilding. We monitor and record our impact areas and are working to initiate land-based initiatives in 2022.
  
  
• We are developing our own site in our local area which will bring more business opportunity to the area. To date we have used a third party to save on site usage and investment to minimise our own impact.
  
  
• Working with our Landlord at our HQ to apply water conservation methods where possible, to ensure that we are only using only as much water as necessary, helping address issues in water scarcity.
  
  
• We do not currently monitor hazardous and toxic wastewater; however our manufacturing process has eliminated the use of chemicals and botanicals are composted after use. As we look to develop our distillery, we will aim to install the infrastructure so we can monitor this impact.
  
  
• We regularly assess microbial, chemical and mineral content of water used and manage water sources appropriately.
  
  
• We monitor our waste and have set a zero waste to landfill target. Waste botanicals are composted and at HQ we adhere to local recycling policies. We use FSC certified paper and cardboard and make sure everything is recyclable, from packaging, glass, cap and marketing materials. Where possible we look to repurpose like our repurposed bottle glassware.
  
  
• Through various brand activations we have raised money for charitable and local causes over 2% of our revenue - Protect Our Winters, McMillan Sober October and Seawilding.
  
  
• Using our platform for good education and inspiring Feragaia drinkers to reconnect to nature behind them for their own health and to learn to respect our planet and its resources more.
  
  
• Traditional alcohol habits can be expensive and damaging. We look to offer a comparable alternative and be a vessel for positive outcomes for customers such as increased health, mental health, productivity, relationship and balanced lifestyle.
  
  
• In regards to customer satisfaction and retention, all of our stakeholders can publicly share their feedback on Trustpilot, where we have achieved and maintained the status of ‘excellent’.