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Environment, Social Responsibility and Governance (ESG)
The responsibility of a business is to give back to the world just as it gives to us.
We are committed to ongoing improvements designed to reflect our responsibility for both environmental and social impact. We want to play our part in making our world a better place to live, work and play. Our ESG policies are in three parts: environment, social, and code of ethics.
You can view our most recent Corporate Social Responsibility Statement here.
Environment - we are Carbon Neutral
Our commitment to the environment means all products ordered from our website have been offset using advanced measuring techniques by independent organisations (Carbon neutral to your door), whether you are ordering for your bar or your home. Rest assured that by ordering with us, you are helping maintain the planet's health.
Urban Bar offsets 125% of our CO2e Carbon Footprint, contributing to several projects in the developing world that support a variety of social benefits locally. Here’s how we are helping:
Environment, Social Responsibility and Governance (ESG)
Packaging
Urban Bar is now completely plastic-free in our packaging!
Following an extensive trial using the latest paper packaging technology we became the first company in the UK to implement a newly developed packaging machine. This means we offer a fully plastic-free delivery without compromising on protection.
When you order from our website, we only use paper and tissue materials, paper tape and paper document wallets, as well as FSC (100% recycled) sustainable boxes to safely protect your order.
Planet Mark
We’re proud to announce that we have achieved the Planet Mark Business Certification, furthering our commitment to reduce our impact on society.
The Planet Mark Business Certification is an internationally recognised sustainability certification for all organisations acknowledging continuous progress, encouraging action and building an empowered community of like-minded individuals.
In order to achieve this sustainability certification, we’ve followed a robust three-step process: Measuring our impact, engaging everyone in the business and communicating our progress. We have measured our own carbon footprint and will continue to take responsibility of our carbon emissions to have a positive impact on planet and society.
We are also contributing to the UN SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) as we believe that it’s important, more than ever, to do more good and create a sustainable future.
Our entire business has contributed to our achievement in becoming Planet Mark certified, and every individual will continue to play an important role in our sustainability commitment.
We want to continue to have a positive impact through our business and hope that we can empower our community to take climate action. We hope that you will join us in this movement for change.
We encourage you to get in touch if you would like further details on our journey.
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The UN Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals are a call for action by all countries – poor, rich and middle-income – to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. They recognize that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection.
ActNow is the United Nations campaign to inspire people to act for the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Goals can improve life for all of us. Cleaner air. Safer cities. Equality. Better jobs. These issues matter to everyone. But progress is too slow. We have to act, urgently, to accelerate changes that add up to better lives on a healthier planet.
We are committed to ActNow and support these goals through our sustainability and carbon offsetting initiatives and business operations.
Website Orders
We are proud to have partnered with Greenspark to further reduce our environmental impact and give more back to the earth. For every order placed on on website we will plant a tree and rescue a plastic bottle from the Ocean. You can follow our journey and check out how we are making a difference by clicking on the below image.
Causes we Support
Portel-Para Project in Brazil
The Portel-Pará Reduced Deforestation (REDD) Project in Brazil project works to prevent deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, helping maintain the natural habitats of numerous endangered species. The REDD Project covers an area of rainforest of 177,899.5 Hectares, home to an abundance of diverse species important to the maintenance of various tree species throughout the rainforest. The project aims to avoid over 22 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) greenhouse gas emissions over 40 years.
Rimba Raya Project- Indonesia
We also support the Rimba Raya project in Indonesia, supporting an economically viable living to deforestation in the region and, in doing so, providing a range of social benefits locally, bringing needed employment, health improvement, and biodiversity.
Rimba Raya is located in Central Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo, and is one of the largest REDD+ peat swamp forest projects in the world, avoiding nearly 130 million tonnes of carbon emissions. Rimba Raya protects one of the most highly endangered ecosystems in the world. Rimba Raya develops livelihood programmes in surrounding villages (addressing all 17 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals) to provide education, employment and hope for the future.
International Animal Rescue- Borneo.
Urban Bar is proud to have adopted Joyce, an orangutan in Borneo. She was only a few months old when she was taken from her mother and then kept as a pet for nearly a year. Joyce lives in the Orangutan Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, Ketapang, West Kalimantan, Borneo. Joyce underwent a rehabilitation program to ensure she could adjust to the unnatural environment of being kept as a pet. She now enjoys living in a forest with her soul mate Gunung in the Orangutan Rescue Centre. Read More About International Animal Rescue
M’tetezi Improved cook-stoves Balaka District, Malawi
The energy-efficient M’tetezi cook stove is a portable biomass stove designed for burning wood. The replacement of traditional stoves with M’tetezi stoves improves heat transfer, hence reducing the total amount of fuel required for cooking and reducing the amount of GHG emitted into the atmosphere.
The M’tetezi cookstove is a typical rocket stove locally manufactured in Malawi. The stove is operated by inserting one or two pieces of wood into the stove through the opening in the side. A draft is created by the large temperature difference between the air entering the bottom of the stove and the hot combustion gases exiting from the top of the vertical combustion chamber. Cooking with the M’tetezi cookstoves requires significantly less firewood than traditional cooking.
Wood is increasingly expensive and scarce in most parts of Malawi. Besides reduced greenhouse gas emissions, the M’tetezi cook stoves furthermore reduce indoor air pollution (carbon monoxide and particulate matter). This reduction in exposure of especially women and young children is expected to reduce the risk related to their health (e.g., respiratory problems, issues related to eyes due to smoke). In comparison to open cooking fires, the use of the M’tetezi cook stove will reduce the amount of time spent obtaining wood fuel, especially for children and mothers. The saved time can be channelled to other activities like buying food, clothes, medical treatments, etc.
Soil Carbon Improvement Project through Grassland Management, in South Africa
This project aims to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere by implementing sustainable grazing management and controlled fire in multiple grasslands across the Drakensberg area of South Africa. Historically, overgrazing and uncontrolled fires have depleted soil organic matter, reduced vegetation cover, and decreased forage production. The project activities, including planned rotational grazing and controlled burning, aim to increase the rest and rotation periods on pastures. By using fencing to create smaller pastures and implementing more frequent rotations, the project facilitates the recovery of perennial grasses, leading to increased carbon inputs and greater belowground production, ultimately sequestering greenhouse gases in the soil.
Southern Cardamom REDD+ Project
The Southern Cardamom REDD+ Project (SCRP) is an initiative designed to promote climate change mitigation and adaptation, maintain biodiversity and create alternative livelihoods under the United Nations scheme of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+). The 445,339 ha SCRP encompasses parts of Southern Cardamom National Park and Tatai Wildlife Sanctuary and will protect a critical part of the Cardamom Mountains Rainforest Ecoregion – one of the 200 most important locations for biodiversity conservation on the planet. The SCRP is part of the Indo Burma Hotspot, one of the worlds' 34 biodiversity hotspots, and is a critical watershed for the Gulf of Thailand, with a mosaic of habitats from dense evergreen and pine forests on its ridge tops to lowland melaleuca wetlands, flooded grasslands, lakes and coastal mangroves in its lowlands. This mosaic of habitat supports at least 52 species of IUCN Threatened birds, mammals, and reptiles including Siamese crocodile and one of Cambodia’s two viable populations of Asian elephant. The landscape has also been identified by the Royal Government of Cambodia as an opportunity for tiger reintroduction.
The SCRP’s watershed is important for the fisheries of the Gulf of Thailand as it provides fresh water to the largest contiguous mangrove forest left in the Gulf, Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a critical nursery for the region’s fisheries. This area provides food for Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam and supports the regulation of climate for the Southeast Asian peninsula. More specifically, the SCRP has 20 major waterways that feed 3,800 villages in over 6 provinces.
The project will directly support the livelihoods of 21 villages in nine communes around the perimeter of the project area. Eight additional villages in 4 communes are eligible to receive educational scholarships. These communities represent approximately 3,957 families and 16,495 individuals.
The SCRP’s watershed is important for the fisheries of the Gulf of Thailand as it provides fresh water to the largest contiguous mangrove forest left in the Gulf, Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a critical nursery for the region’s fisheries. This area provides food for Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam and supports the regulation of climate for the Southeast Asian peninsula. More specifically, the SCRP has 20 major waterways that feed 3,800 villages in over 6 provinces.
The project will directly support the livelihoods of 21 villages in nine communes around the perimeter of the project area. Eight additional villages in 4 communes are eligible to receive educational scholarships. These communities represent approximately 3,957 families and 16,495 individuals.
Zambia Western Province Safe Water Project
Although progress has been made over the last decade, less than 50% of the rural Zambian population have access to safe water, with the majority having to rely on unsafe water sources such as hand dug wells or streams. The consumption and use of unsafe water have significant health impacts, with water borne and diarrheal diseases being the third highest cause of death and disability in the country. The high climatic variability in the region, resulting in frequent flooding and droughts, further compounds the stress on local communities.
Nearly 90% of the rural population rely on wood as their primary energy source, and for those that have no choice but to boil water for purification, this contributes to a major source hazardous household air pollution as well as carbon emissions.
Borehole handpumps offer communities a reliable means of accessing clean groundwater aquifers, and many have been installed over the past few decades. However, without regular maintenance they have often fallen into disrepair. The project rehabilitates and maintains these vital safe water sources, trains the communities on best WASH practices, and builds the capacity of local communities to manage and maintain the water sources into the future.
Nearly 90% of the rural population rely on wood as their primary energy source, and for those that have no choice but to boil water for purification, this contributes to a major source hazardous household air pollution as well as carbon emissions.
Borehole handpumps offer communities a reliable means of accessing clean groundwater aquifers, and many have been installed over the past few decades. However, without regular maintenance they have often fallen into disrepair. The project rehabilitates and maintains these vital safe water sources, trains the communities on best WASH practices, and builds the capacity of local communities to manage and maintain the water sources into the future.
CO2OL Tropical Mix
This project is located in Panama and is spread over a large area in the provinces of Panama, Darien, Veraguas, Chiriqui and Bocas del Toro.
The project is a reforestation project planting native trees and some teak trees. It is a Gold Standard project for the Global Goals, and so not only saves carbon, but also contributes to alleviating poverty, providing decent work and economic growth, encouraging responsible consumption and production, supporting climate action, and protecting life on land.
On the project areas of CO2OL Tropical Mix, formerly fallow and degraded pasture land is reforested with mostly native tree species and turned into mixed forests. Parts of the areas are used for the fair production of organic cocoa. Due to its sustainable management, the project combines environmentally friendly timber and cocoa production with biodiversity protection and ecosystem restoration.
The trees are planted on land that was previously grassland, and the project will be independently verified every 5 years to check on progress and growth, as well as issue carbon credits.
The project is a reforestation project planting native trees and some teak trees. It is a Gold Standard project for the Global Goals, and so not only saves carbon, but also contributes to alleviating poverty, providing decent work and economic growth, encouraging responsible consumption and production, supporting climate action, and protecting life on land.
On the project areas of CO2OL Tropical Mix, formerly fallow and degraded pasture land is reforested with mostly native tree species and turned into mixed forests. Parts of the areas are used for the fair production of organic cocoa. Due to its sustainable management, the project combines environmentally friendly timber and cocoa production with biodiversity protection and ecosystem restoration.
The trees are planted on land that was previously grassland, and the project will be independently verified every 5 years to check on progress and growth, as well as issue carbon credits.
Renewable Solar Power Project by Adani Green Energy Limited
Adani Green Energy Limited is implementing a transformative 990 MW solar power project across five states in India - Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. By harnessing clean, renewable solar energy, this project will displace approximately 1,553,021 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually that would have otherwise been generated by fossil fuel-based power plants on the Indian electricity grid.
Over its 10-year first crediting period, the solar installations will replace around 1,639,080 MWh of electricity per year from thermal power sources. As a greenfield development, the entire capacity is new and additional.
The project exemplifies sustainability and India's transition to a greener future. Beyond the significant climate benefits, it also contributes to energy security, air quality improvements, and sustainable development in the region.
By supporting this project through carbon offsets, companies and individuals can directly contribute to urgent climate action and accelerate India's shift to clean energy. This solar project is a powerful example of how emissions reductions can be achieved at scale while providing tangible local benefits.
Over its 10-year first crediting period, the solar installations will replace around 1,639,080 MWh of electricity per year from thermal power sources. As a greenfield development, the entire capacity is new and additional.
The project exemplifies sustainability and India's transition to a greener future. Beyond the significant climate benefits, it also contributes to energy security, air quality improvements, and sustainable development in the region.
By supporting this project through carbon offsets, companies and individuals can directly contribute to urgent climate action and accelerate India's shift to clean energy. This solar project is a powerful example of how emissions reductions can be achieved at scale while providing tangible local benefits.
To View our offsetting certificate for 2024/2025 click here
NGOs and Sustainability Certifiers
We collaborate with respected NGOs and effective, people-driven sustainability certifiers.
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UN Global Compact
Urban Bar is a member of the UN Global Compact, committed to improving global business practices regarding human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption. Read more at the UN Global Compact website.
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Eco Vadis
Urban Bar is dedicated to improving environmental and social practices in conjunction with EcoVadis. We currently hold a Silver "Advanced" CSR level of sustainability performance. and are placed within the top 25% of companies dedicated to improving social, ethical, and environmental work practices in our supply chain. Read more at the EcoVadis website
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Planet Mark
Planet Mark provides independent sustainability certification to over 800 organisations in every sector measuring progress for the planet and society. Learn more about Planet Mark here.
Code of Ethics
Urban Bar will conduct its business honestly and ethically wherever we operate. We will constantly improve the quality of our services, products, and operations and create a reputation for honesty, fairness, respect, responsibility, integrity, trust, and sound business judgment. Our complete code of ethics is here.