Creating Climate & Community Resilience Through Business Partnerships: Maggie’s Organics and Grow Ahead
Maggie's Organics:
Maggie’s Organics is a trailblazer in the organic textile industry, with three decades of experience building ethical and sustainable supply chains. Their unprecedented Real Fair Trade pledge promotes total transparency, total sustainability, and true ethical practices from farm to finish. Known for high-quality socks and apparel basics, Maggie’s Organics continually seeks new ways to uplift small-scale farmers and foster resilience on the frontlines of climate change.
The Challenge:
Maggie’s Organics has long been recognized as a responsible brand, but wanted to give their e-commerce customers an even greater role in supporting climate action and strengthening farming communities. With the rapid growth of online shopping, shipping has become one of the fastest growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions. This has increased demand for meaningful ways to not only limit those emissions, but to capture and sequester carbon in a socially equitable way.
The Solution:
Moving beyond traditional carbon capture projects, Maggie’s Organics began partnering with GA in 2018 to offer Eco-Shipping, a program for brands, consumers, and farmers alike. A plugin on the final payment page of e-commerce websites, Eco-Shipping gives customers the option to donate $2 to plant a tree within agroforestry systems managed by Grow Ahead’s small-scale farming partners. Through this collaborative effort, Maggie’s Organics and Grow Ahead empower customers to make an individual impact on climate resilience and community well-being. It’s also a great way for individuals to take responsibility for the carbon emissions that come along with shipping a product from factory to front door.
Along with the Eco-Shipping partnership, Maggie’s Organics also introduced the organic cotton “Stand Sock,” which distributed 20% of sales directly to Grow Ahead’s agroforestry initiatives. These programs engage customers, allowing them to take direct responsibility for the emissions associated with their purchase. As Maggie’s Organics’ Head of Supply Chain, Amie Farkas, remarks:
“We've had customer reviews and people write in to us that they really appreciate the tree planting option. We're using it as an eco-friendly shipping, but I think they appreciate that they know what it is. It's defined. It’s a tree and it's going to the actual farming communities that need the help. Sometimes I think people have a concern that where they're donating their money to isn't actually going towards the action step, so this is a concrete way that our customers have definitely appreciated.”
Why Agroforestry?
Agroforestry is a way of planting crops (i.e. income generating crops like cocoa and coffee, food staples, medical plants, etc.) and native trees together to improve social, economic, and environmental benefits that traditional monoculture farming lacks. From an environmental perspective, agroforestry helps restore ecosystems by replenishing soil with essential water and nutrients, preventing erosion, and fostering biodiversity. Trees in these systems act as natural carbon sinks, pulling tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere over their lifetime.
On the social and economic side, agroforestry respects and upholds farmers' rights by increasing opportunities for them to create a balanced source of nutrition and income for their communities. Diversified income streams not only reduce dependence on a single crop but also strengthen farmers’ economic resilience against market volatility. Moreover, Grow Ahead’s agroforestry projects often include training for farmers in sustainable practices, leadership opportunities for female farmers, and trust in the traditional knowledge of locals.
Agroforestry is an approach that aligns respect for farmer autonomy with respect for the land, offering a pathway to sustainable agricultural practices that support local communities and the world.
Results & Impact:
The Maggie’s Organics and Grow Ahead partnership has made a significant environmental and social impact:
- Maggie’s Organics Lifetime Contribution:
- Trees Planted: 9,700+
- Acres Reforested: 100+
- Grow Ahead’s Total Impact Since 2017:
- Monetary Impact: $1.5M+ crowdfunded for small-scale farmers
- Trees Planted: 862,000+
- Farmers Engaged: 10,425+
- Community Members Served: 87,800+
- Projects: 28
- Countries: 13
Through this partnership, Maggie’s Organics and Grow Ahead foster soil health, food sovereignty, and community empowerment. The more businesses that support local farmer-led agroforestry initiatives, the greater opportunity to make a positive impact for people and our planet.
Customer Reviews:
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I am so grateful to see this option. I now look for it wherever I shop. I think that it is important to have carbon-neutral shipping since shipping is something so essential to the e-commerce world and yet it is often not given a second thought about its costs and impact. Thank you, Maggie's! -Jessica, Maggie’s Organics Customer
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Always happy whenever something like this is included as an option. Stores should do their part and we have to chip in too. -Jay, Maggie’s Organics Customer
If you're part of a responsible business looking to increase your environmental and social impact, a business partnership with Grow Ahead might be the perfect solution! With different opportunities including Eco-Shipping, percent of sales contributions, and tree planting per unit, there's something for every business. Custom partnership opportunities are also available if you already have something exciting in mind. Learn more about business partnerships and reach out to Grow Ahead for more information below.
