Sustainability
Our Green Credentials
At Langridge Organic, we believe operating our business in the most sustainable way possible is crucial, we make sure we do everything we can to carry this ethos throughout our entire business operation. Selling certified organic produce however is only the starting point for a truly sustainable business. Every aspect of the business needs also to be examined and questioned to make sure that everything we do is done in the most environmentally friendly and sustainable way.
For more information on what we are doing click on the links below and read more on the topics we care about.
Organic Farming
Obviously for us it all starts with the produce so Organic Farming is at the heart of everything we do. Making sure we work with the most committed, certified, organic growers both here in the UK and from around the rest of the world (when needed), we can make sure we are selling produce that is grown using the most environmentally sustainable methods possible.
We believe passionately that organic farming methods offer not only the most sustainable farming practices possible but through the certification process that all our growers, and ourselves, are require by law to go through customers seeing the Organic Certification symbols, can be assured of what they are buying and how it has been produced.
Food Waste
Food waste, rightly so, has become something that we have become more aware of in recent years. Reducing the amount of food that goes to waste is something we should all be concerned about. Throughout the supply chain there are points where food goes to waste and each point there are things that can be done to reduce this. We break down food waste into two potential areas, On Farm and Off Farm ( or in our Warehouse ) and look at what we can do in each of these area to firstly limit waste and then secondly limit the impact of any waste that is created. In looking at the impact of waste it enables us to then decide an action plan for redistributing or disposing of that waste.
Solar Installation
As an Organic Business our own carbon footprint has always been very important to us and we have always tried to reduce this where and whenever we can.
As tenants at New Covent Garden for nearly 25 years we were quite limited in what we could do in terms of the suppliers of our utilities and in particular our electricity suppliers.
When we moved to a new premises in August 2018 one our first actions was to make sure our electricity came from 100% renewable sources. This was relatively easy to achieve so we started looking at the possibilities of generating our own electricity.
After a little research we found Mole Energy, part of Mole Valley Farmers, and in March 2021 our 106 kWp solar installation went live.
On Farm
Perhaps the place where potentially the greatest amount of waste can be produced but at the same time perhaps the place where it potentially can have the least impact. The best way for us to reduce ‘on farm’ waste is to be able to sell the broadest spectrum of each crop that is grown. This includes all the different sizes, shapes and quality of each crop. To do this, as a wholesaler, we need a wide range of different customers and at Langridge this is something we pride ourselves in. From the best highest quality retailers, cafes, restaurants, food service customers to food processors and manufacturers, at Langridge we are able to place the broadest range of crop specifications with the correct customer. If we still end up with the situation On Farm that there are parts of the crop that can’t be sold it is important to identify this before too much is done to that crop. Some crops can be used for animal feed so will still be lifted or cut where as others are much better left in the field so that they can rot down and add fertility back into the soil in which they were originally grown.
Off Farm
Once the produce has left the farm there is still lots we can do to make sure food waste is kept to a minimum. Short supply chains, from order to delivery to ensure freshness is always kept at its optimum level. Efficient refrigerated transport and storage once at our depot. We are open 24 hours a day to allow our supplier to deliver to us with the minimum of delay. All our fridges are modern and efficient to run as technology currently allows. All temperature are constantly monitored and recorded. Even doing this and taking all the care we can along the entire supply chain we still end up with produce that is not of high enough quality to supply to any of our customers so what then?
City Harvest
We started working with City Harvest at the beginning of 2019 as a result of looking for some one who could firstly make the best use of any produce we had not suitable for sale and secondly an organisation that we could have faith in to use this produce in the best possible way. As an added bonus they are lovely people to work with. They do great work in and around London and to find out more about what the do please follow this link: cityharvest
Bio Collectors
Even with all the great work that City Harvest do we still end up with some produce that even they can’t use and this is where Bio Collectors come in. At Bio Collectors, they operate a true closed-loop solution by converting every bit of food waste they collect into electricity, bio-gas and nutrient rich fertiliser for farmers using an innovative Anaerobic Digestion (AD) process. Added to this what is great for us it that they are pretty local to us being based in Mitcham so it means out waste is not being transported halfway across the country. You can find out more about Bio Collectors HERE
Recycling
It is not just the produce itself that is important for a sustainable business but also the packaging that is used to transport and store the produce is also vital. All the waste carboard and plastic that we produce is separated, baled and sent for recycling.
