Sustainability
Sustainability is one of the most important concepts when it comes to fighting climate change and protecting the environment for us and future generations. We must act responsibly and that must start now. We can all do our bit, however small those changes might be.
Beacon Commodities’ aim is to sustainably source, import, store and distribute botanicals used in the distillation of gin. We all have a responsibility to put in place positive change for the sake of our planet and future generations. This is why Beacon Commodities place responsible sourcing at the forefront of their operations.
Environment:
Balancing our unavoidable emissions:
Travelling to see suppliers and customers is an unavoidable part of Beacon’s business. In fact, it is part of our responsible sourcing strategy and builds long-term relationships. We recognise that these emissions need to be balanced and therefore we purchase certified carbon removal credits and contribute to carbon avoidance projects within the UK and around the globe.
Plastic removal:
At Beacon Commodities we recognise the fact that we are a contributor to plastic use as a number of our products are stored in polypropylene bags. We are constantly searching for alternatives and continue to monitor what the market can offer. In 2023, we changed the way we sent out samples, replacing our sample bags and labels with 100% recyclable products.
To recognise the detrimental effect that plastic has on the environment we make an annual contribution to the 4Ocean Foundation. The 4Ocean Foundation are dedicated to the removal of plastic waste from the world’s oceans, rivers and coastlines. This is calculated by the number and weight of polypropylene bags we use each year.
Carbon Literate:
In 2024, Tommy was certified as Carbon Literate by the Carbon Literacy Project. This workshop provided Tommy with the knowledge and framework for Beacon Commodities to work towards further improving their carbon footprint in the future.
Responsible sourcing:
All our botanical suppliers are approved individually by Tommy to ensure they meet our quality and ethical standards. Our supplier approval process is verified through our BRCGS accreditation.
We have recently launched an additional section within our questionnaires covering sustainability to better understand at what stage each supplier is at and where possible improvements can be made.
Social:
Beacon Commodities are proud to be based in Suffolk and since moving there 6 years ago have learnt about the challenges faced by young people in the region with areas of very real deprivation throughout the county. As a result, Beacon Commodities have opened up a flow-through fund with the Suffolk Community Foundation (suffolkcf.org.uk). This provides annual grants based on the following priorities and criteria;
a). Provide food, hot meals and support to those in need.
b). Support children and young people.
c). A combination of a). and b). where possible.
d). There is a particular desire to fund initiatives in the Hadleigh, Whatfield and Felixstowe areas, while other applications will also be welcomed.
e). Core costs will be considered for funding.
In two years, Beacon Commodities have provided grants of £15,000 and will not be stopping there. Below are some examples of the local causes they have helped support and more information can be found hereÂ
Bows & Arrows – help provide food preparation and cooking sessions for children under the age of 5 and their families in some of the most deprived areas of Ipswich. bowsandarrowsgroup.co.uk
Level Two Youth Project – promote the welfare of young people aged 7-25 through supportive relationships and positive experiences in Felixstowe.
leveltwo.org
Room 4 – offer trauma focused psycho-therapeutic interventions to hard to reach young people in the community. Many are at risk of being groomed into gangs, Child Sexual Exploitation and Child Criminal Exploitation.
room4.org
Please feel free to download the Beacon Commodities Sustainability Policy here