GreenFinder

Gaia

An independent co-operative founded upon strongly ethical principles. We specialise in supplying high quality organic wholefoods and, where possible, locally sourced fruit and veg. We also stock one of the area’s widest ranges of specialist foods, providing for vegans, celiacs, and a host of other requirements.

Green Policies

Gaia’s ethical policy is based on the principles of sustainability, social justice and non-violence. This is applied to all aspects of the co-operative. A sustainable business considers its impact on the environment and its relationship with its suppliers, its workers and its customers as well as remaining financially viable.

Gaia is run as a workers’ co-operative. It is owned by the people who work in it. Every worker is equally valued and takes responsibility for decision making.

Our ideal is to sell food that is both locally and organically produced. Sometimes, however, it is more sustainable to use local, non-organic, food than to import something organic. Where possible we buy fairly traded goods that don’t exploit farmers in the developing world. Goods with the Fair Trade mark ensure that some profits go back to the farmers to help them to improve and develop their farms and communities, rather than to large global companies who are likely to take the money out of the country that provided the produce.

Gaia only stocks vegan or vegetarian products.

We only stock cosmetics, soaps and household products that have not been tested on animals. Gaia aims to stock only products that contain chemicals that are considered to be safe for human beings and the environment.

Gaia aims to trade with companies that have established ethical policies. We prefer to trade with other co-operatives whenever we can.

We aim to minimize our impact on the environment. We use minimal packaging, while meeting food hygiene requirements. We compost our fruit and vegetable waste. We deliver vegetable bags by bicycle when possible. Members of the co-op are encouraged to walk or cycle to work.