Sustainability Profile: Claudia's Choices

1. What is your company's brand promise, vision or statement of values, and how does it relate to sustainability?
Claudia's Choices – Envirösponsible Products for a Modern World

Claudia's Choices is an online eco store and cloth diaper boutique. We specialize in 'envirosponsible' or eco-friendly household products and cloth diaper accessories. Our products are safe and effective alternatives to commercially available laundry & cleaning products, and diapering & baby-care products. Our goal is to help minimize our impact on the environment and support sustainable living. We believe that even the smallest of steps in the right direction are still steps in the right direction.
2. How are your products or services environmentally and socially sustainable?
We promote the use of cloth diapers by providing consumers with products that enable them to wash cloth diapers at home. Since cloth diapers that are home washable and reusable are eligible for the EcoLogo, Environment Canada has recognized them as a superior choice to disposable diapers.

All other products that we retail and wholesale are environmentally responsible. As much as possible, we prefer to promote products that are made locally, then made in Canada and then made in other countries. We always endeavor to have dealings with companies that exhibit a high level of social responsibility.
3. How does your company give preference to suppliers who create positive social and environmental benefits either through their products and services or through their community partnerships?
• Claudia's Choices Ultra Phosphate Free Laundry Powder is made of 98% natural ingredients. It is a Canadian-made product, made with Canadian-made reusable packaging.
• Claudia's Choices Ultra Phosphate Free Laundry Powder is mechanically produced. At present we package the product manually.
• Our products are transported by truck to customers across Canada. Whenever possible, individual orders are taken to the Post Office nearby on foot.
• We have a bucket re-use program in effect with all of our retailers. Customers bring back their empty bucket for $2 off their next purchase. The buckets are then returned to us for re-filling. This program has proven to be very popular as the buckets are re-usable and can easily be kept from going into the landfill.
4. How does your business minimize the environmental impact of its operations?
• Waste reduction: Our laundry powder ships in cardboard boxes and plastic bags. The cardboard boxes are donated to another local manufacturer for shipping purposes. The plastic bags are re-used as garbage bags. Palettes are re-used for our own shipping purposes.
• Recycling: Any materials that are not re-usable are recycled via curbside pickup or at local recycling depots.
• Energy efficiency: Our workshop is heated by wood only when in use if necessary.
• Water efficiency: Water is only used for washing the returned buckets. This is done by hand using an all-natural dish soap.
• Paper products and administrative supplies: We only print on recycled paper.
• Hazardous materials and cleaning products: n/a
• Transportation and staff commuting: We plan our deliveries and product purchases such that trips are minimized as much as possible.
5. How does your business demonstrate ethical business conduct?
• Claudia's Choices is a registered trade name under 1139097 Alberta Ltd.
• We have a toll-free phone number for any questions and/or customer complaints.
• Claudia's Choices financial statements ("Notice to Reader") are prepared by a CGA.
6. What strategic community partnerships does your company have in place?
We are a proud member of:
• The Canadian Reusable Diaper Association
• Trout Unlimited Canada
• Clean Calgary Association
• REAP Business Association
7. What policy or guidelines exist to support charitable contributions?
We believe that support for your community, humanity, nature and the environment are moral obligations. We also believe that contributing to charitable organizations that support these causes are a driver for profitable business operations. Part of the proceeds of each retail sale of the 3.5 kg bucket goes to support Trout Unlimited. We have also made ad hoc donations of money, time and product to numerous organizations over the years.
8. How many people do you employ locally?
2
9. In what ways does your business demonstrate its commitment to employee health and safety?
We are a small, owner operated business, so this is not yet applicable.
10. In what ways does your business demonstrate its commitment to employee development and job satisfaction?
We are a small, owner operated business, so this is not yet applicable.
11. How does your business support employees to lead balanced lives and be active participants in their communities?
As an owner operated business, we act on our sense of obligation to the community through our business and our personal commitments. We support a number of charitable organizations: CUSO, Canadian Feed the Children, the United Way, the Calgary Interfaith Foodbank and the Alberta Wilderness Association to name a few.