“Environmental and climate justice is a civil rights issue. We all depend on the physical environment and its bounty.

Toxic facilities, like coal-fired power plants and incinerators, emit mercury, arsenic, lead, and other contaminants into the water, food, and lungs of communities. Many of these same facilities also emit carbon dioxide and methane — the No. 1 and No. 2 drivers of climate change. But not all people are equally impacted. Race — even more than class — is the number one indicator for the placement of toxic facilities in this country hit by climate change.” -NAACP

As Lotus, we are steadfast advocates for social and environmental justice. Our commitment goes beyond the confines of profit margins; it is deeply rooted in our values and the legacy we want to leave for future generations. Every individual, irrespective of their background, has the right to a clean and healthy environment; and currently this is not the case.

We stand firm on our knowledge that Racial and Environmental injustice is an ethical issue. We, along with everyone, have a responsibility to ensure we are doing everything we can to support the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) communities. Our education in antiracism is ongoing, and we reassess regularly to ensure we are being as productive and current in our efforts as we can be.

In our pursuit of this, we look forward to continuing our efforts to support and uplift the Black Community as well as other environmental justice causes through our charitable contributions, marketing efforts and collaborations, volunteering, continued conversations and education, company social justice Slack channels, observed paid Juneteenth and MLK holidays, and much more.

Donating to Black-created organizations that focus on food justice, the preservation of land, and enriching agriculture seems very relevant for all reasons, but also because slavery was an economic system that had millions work the land for white people’s economic gain.
As one of my mentors said so beautifully: “Land holds memory. Perhaps we can work with these organizations to repair horrific injustices imprinted in the Earth and bring ownership of the land and agriculture education into the hands and lives of Black people”.  
By championing these causes, we aim to inspire positive change within our community and industry. Our hope is that our actions resonate beyond our business, creating a ripple effect that encourages others to join the collective effort towards a more just, equitable, and sustainable world.

Neutrality in matters of race does not exist. To create impact and lasting change, we must do the work, and we implore you to join us in getting involved. We are so proud of the community we have cultivated with Lotus Sustainables and look forward to collaborating with you and our network in newer, better ways.


In Kindness for All People and the Planet,
Jennifer
Co-Founder, Lotus Sustainables

Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.  -Maya Angelou