Sustainability
A Journey We're Proud to Take
with Your Dog's Well-being in Mind
Our Love for Dogs and Nature Shapes Everything We Do
Here at Greenbark we know that the experiences we share with our dogs in nature are powerful. They linger in our memory, they inspire us, and they bring joy, love and well-being to both our dogs and ourselves. This bond and interconnectedness between humans, dogs and nature shapes our company values and drives how we run our business. For us it’s about contributing to a more sustainable balance between happy dog ownership and conserving our natural environment by offering safe, quality dog products made from low impact materials and ethical manufacturing.
Where We Are
As a conscious brand, Greenbark is just beginning its journey towards sustainability. Currently, we are focusing on carefully selecting products made from recycled, organic, natural, or certified materials from environmentally and socially conscious brands, using shipping companies committed to sustainability, and shipping orders in recycled or reused packaging. We have also prioritised creating a user-friendly interface that allows our customers to effortlessly browse dog products that align with their values, utilising filters and value icons. Furthermore, we are continuously improving our communication strategy to provide greater transparency about the materials and processes involved in producing the products we offer, empowering our customers to make informed decisions.
However, we recognise that we still have a long way to go. One of the challenges we face is that certifications and lifecycle analyses, which are both expensive and complex, may not be feasible for all environmentally and socially conscious brands to obtain for their individual products or business operations. This can make it difficult for us to assess the full sustainability of the products we source and ensure that they meet our high standards, even if they are made from recycled, organic, natural, or certified materials that indicate a certain level of sustainability.
Furthermore, many of our suppliers carry a wide range of brands and products, some of which may not align with our environmentally and socially conscious values. As a growing business with limited influence and bargaining power, it may be difficult for us to enforce our desired supplier code of conduct to the fullest extent.
Where We Are Going
As a small startup, we are committed to creating a meaningful impact. We have set our sights on becoming B-Corp certified, but recognise that the process can be complex and expensive. Therefore, we have decided to focus on actionable steps that align with B-Corp standards, while keeping a close eye on the requirements of certification. By doing so, we aim to make a seamless transition when we are ready to go through the certification process.
Our sustainability journey is guided by a global perspective that incorporates multiple disciplines and knowledge sources. We strive to apply international best practices across our operations, with specific pillars and standards informing our approach. Effective communication is paramount to our sustainability efforts, and we rely on the UN’s principles for Providing Product Sustainability Information to Empower and Enable Consumer Choice. For responsible management of our value chains, we are inspired by OECD’s six-step framework for Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct.
As we move forward in 2024, we remain committed to improving our communication strategy and leveraging these guidelines to provide greater transparency to our customers. Our sustainability journey is an ongoing process, with the goal of empowering our customers to make informed and conscious decisions that align with their values and are good for their dogs. To this end, we will prioritise strengthening our due diligence efforts in our value chains, using the OECD framework for Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct as a guide. Specifically, we will focus on the initial three steps of the framework: embedding responsible business conduct into policies and management systems, identifying and assessing adverse impacts in operations, supply chains, and business relationships, and ceasing, preventing, or mitigating adverse impacts. Our aim is to create a culture of transparency and responsibility throughout our organisation, empowering both our customers and our business to make a positive impact on the world around us.
Partnerships
We are constantly striving to improve and expand our product selection, educational content, and communication strategies, with a focus on engaging and relevant content and products for our customers. We welcome national (Danish) and international partnerships and input from our customers, as we believe that together we can create a better world for our furry friends. If you share our values and are interested in genuine collaboration or sharing ideas, please get in touch via our contact page. We look forward to connecting with fellow advocates for dog welfare, our natural environment and sustainable development.
At the end of 2024, we will review our progress, revise our strategies, and plan our efforts for the coming years. Our aim is to continue making a positive impact on the environment, dogs, our customers, and our community.
