Avocado is a company with a self-proclaimed “activist” agenda to make the world's most sustainable organic mattresses, pillows and bedding.
Launch date in 2017 in Hoboken NJ, Avocado quickly worked to become a B-Corp in 2019. About 50% percent of its management staff identify as women. Its Los Angeles factory runs on wind energy and the company owns the farm and facilities that process its raw materials in India, making it easier to trace products through the supply chain.
According to the matress and bedding company, the Avocado team manages a 40,000-hectare farm in the Himachal Pradesh region of northern India where they tend to 180,000 sheep whose wool, "one of the world’s most breathable, soft, and thermoregulating natural fibers in the world” they harvest for production.
The company also makes its own certified organic latex from on a 4,000-acre farm in Kochi, India in collaboration with local farmers who harvest the rubber sap necessary for production.
If they didn't have you at "certified organic everything," then Avocado is willing to sweeten the deal: Matresses come with 1-year sleep trial, 25-year warranty, easy financing with Affirm®, free shipping, and optional in-home delivery and setup.
Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (I)
100% Wind Powered. The company's LA factory and wood shop powered by renewable energy. The green mattress pioneer supports local wind power farms through Arcadia Power.
Carbon Negative. Avocado Green has also worked its way to Climate Neutral certification. Climate Neutral measures the company's entire carbon footprint from sourcing raw materials to manufacturing to product delivery. The company has achieved net-zero carbon emissions and then officially became carbon negative in 2020.
Upcycling. The company also claims to upcycle 100% of its unused material.
As of June 2021, Avocado ships in plastic wrapping (LDPE #4) . Yep, they know.
According to the company website, "we are actively working on sourcing a plant-based wrapping material with sufficient tensile strength to replace the current plastic wrap."
Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (II)
Women. 50% of management positions are held by persons who identify as women.
Minorities. 10-19% of Avocado's board of directors are from underpresented groups.
Land Acknowledgment. Avocado has acknowledged the territory of Native people on which its business is run, from its New Jersey office on the traditional territory of the Munsee Lenape people to its California factory that sits on land in the traditional territory of the Tongva and Kizh people.
High to Low Pay Ratio. The highest paid employee makes 6-10x what the lowest paid full-time worker.
Avocado says it donates 90% of returned products to nonprofits. In November 2020, it also donated 15,000 masks to the State of California to help voters cast their ballots safely amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
Through its partnership at 1% for the Planet, Avocado Green also supports Outdoor Afro, a non-profit that promotes access to the outdoors for Black communities.
Avocado says it provides competitive compensation to personnel workers. Benefits include quarterly paid volunteer days, a free Headspace account and subsidized Classpass membership to encourage self-care practices among its employees.
Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (III)
As a certified B-Corp, Avocado Green pledges to meet the organization's standards for responsible governance and sustainable inclusive business. The company became a Certified B Corp in May 2020, with a high score of 126.2. The passing grade is 80 points.
The company holds several organic certifications including Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS), Global Organic Textile Standard and USDA Organic, OEKO-TEX®, Climate Neutral and B-Corp, which reviews overall business practices for sustainable standards.
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