Last updated on June 13th, 2024
New York-based Handsome Brook Farms, the country’s largest producer of organic pasture raised eggs, has achieved Certified B Corp. status. Certified B Corporations balance purpose and profit, weighing the impact of their business decisions on the well-being of their workforce, supply chain, consumers and the environment at large.
“Since our founding in 2007, we have been dedicated to bringing the most sustainable and ethical eggs to a market near you,” said Jordan Czeizler, CEO of Handsome Brook Farms. “Our dedication to our hens, farmers, customers and the planet has become stronger with each passing year. For us, B Corp certification is a great recognition of our core mission and a jumpstart to additional accountability within the industry and, of course, to our customers.”
While the B Corp. status is a milestone for the 14-year-old company, Handsome Brook Farms’ goal is to ensure that this certification serves as a crucial stepping stone — rather than a stopping point — in its evolving series of sustainability initiatives. To that end, on the heels of its B Corp. status comes the formal announcement of new and rigorous outcome-based sustainability commitments that focus on three core business areas: regenerative farms, responsible operations and thriving communities.
The following commitments are set to be realized through internal and external accountability processes by 2027:
Goal 1: Regenerative Farms
- Advance regenerative agriculture practices across 100 percent of the farmers in their network; and
- Supporting tactics include: erosion management, hen manure management, optimized gutter systems, on-farm workshops and implementation of renewable energy sources.
Goal 2: Responsible Operations
- 100 percent sustainable packaging; and
- Supporting tactics include: increase the PCR (post-consumer recycled) content in hybrid cartons, change the jumbo egg cartons from plastic to pulp, partner with How2Recycle for carton labels and minimal and thoughtful sourcing of virgin fiber (preserving high conservation value forests).
Goal 3: Thriving Communities
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 10 percent across the supply chain; and
- Supporting tactics include: partner with high potential, third party reduction strategy advisors, define Handsome’s carbon accounting methodology, roll out proven reduction strategies across Handsome farms, refine strategies and measure against baseline year.
Unlike the majority of agribusinesses, Handsome Brook Farms will take its commitment to regenerative practices one step further through its newly launched Pasture Improvement Cost Share Program, created to incentivize its many small, family-owned and operated partner farms to implement sustainable systems that work for its specific needs. This allows for support to be customized based on each farm’s unique geography and the subsequent challenges they may face while executing regenerative farming practices.
Designed to ensure each farm is able to flourish independently for generations to come, the program includes but is not limited to financial assistance for technical support, infrastructure upgrades and planting materials.
Handsome Brook Farms’ B Corp. certification reinforces the company’s social and environmental practices to date. Handsome Brook has already made on-farm investments in infrastructure and enabled regenerative farming using a multi-tier approach to develop farm-specific conservation practices, many of which are already evident at their partner farms. Further, Handsome Brook works with and contributes to organizations through in-kind egg donations to 501(c)3 nonprofits like City Harvest; corporate cash donations to mission-aligned NGOs like Soul Fire Farm, Black Soil and Main Street Project (all working to advance the well-being of marginalized groups through regenerative farming and responsible operations); and an employee match program for eligible 501(c)3 organizations whose purpose and philosophy is consistent with the company’s animal welfare and sustainability objectives.
