Top Employer: Nature's Path Foods, Inc.

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Nature's Path Foods, Inc.
9100 Van Horne Way
Richmond, BC V6X 1W3
Nature's Path Foods, Inc. is a leading BC-based manufacturer of organic breakfast cereal and snack foods, distributing to over 50 countries.
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Nature's Path employees attended the annual Eat Well, Do Good 'foodraising' event   (Photo credit: Kim B.)
Recognized as one of BC's Top Employers (2022):
Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Feb 7, 2022)
Here are some of the reasons why Nature's Path Foods, Inc. was selected as one of BC's Top Employers (2022):
Nature's Path actively supports a number of charitable organizations each year and encourages employee involvement through a paid day off to volunteer -- additionally, the company recognizes employees who donate their time through a Community Champion Award, donating $100 to a charity of their choice
Nature's Path offers training and development opportunities for individuals at various stages of their career, from career planning services for current employees, to paid internships for students and recent grads just starting out
Nature's Path hosts an annual health and wellness week, featuring yoga classes, holistic nutritionists and biometric screenings -- and offers a Get Fit subsidy of $500 which can be used for related fitness activities as well as the purchase of home fitness equipment
Ratana Stephens, co-founder of Nature's Path  
Highlights
Toronto ON, Vancouver BC, Richmond BC, Delta BC
Full-time employees in Canada
Average age of employees in Canada
42 years
Nature's Path has multiple employee groups, the following programs and policies may vary by position
Long-term savings
as part of the health plan, the employer pays up to 50% of the premiums
Mental health practitioner benefit
up to $500 each year
Flexible work options
new employees receive 3 weeks of paid vacation after their first year on the job
Outside survey period
outside consultant surveys are held every 12 months
Employee performance reviews
employees receive individual performance reviews every 6 months
In-house training initiatives
in-house training, online training, leadership training, paid internships
Related tuition subsidies
employer covers up to 100% of tuition per year
Annual tuition maximum
employer pays up to $2,500 in tuition subsidies for job-related courses per year
Employee charitable involvement
employees are involved in selection of charities, employees receive paid time off to volunteer, (up to 1 paid day)
COVID-19
Pandemic response
offered a Heroic Premium Bonus for employees working on the front-line at the start of the pandemic, which has since been incorporated permanently into each team member's pay
Recognized as one of Canada's Greenest Employers (2022):
Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Apr 19, 2022)
Here are some of the reasons why Nature's Path Foods, Inc. was selected as one of Canada's Greenest Employers (2022):
Nature's Path partners with a number of organic farms in Canada and the United States, helping to ensure that over 48,000 hectares of farmland remain under organic stewardship -- this translates into ongoing support for cleaner water, healthier soil, less risk of exposure to farmers and their families to toxic chemicals, along with supporting abundant, bird, bee and butterfly populations
Nature's Path longstanding "Envirobox" program is part of the company's focus on reducing waste and adverse impacts wherever possible -- the program has reduced overall packaging by 66 per cent on average (when compared to boxed cereal products) and has ensured that all packaging is made of Forest Stewardship Council-certified 100 per cent recycled paperboard and corrugated cardboard using vegetable-based inks
Nature's Path is a founding partner with the "Loop" online shopping platform that includes a coalition of global brands to rethink waste generated by single-use packaging -- the program features reusable containers that are collected from consumers and refilled by manufacturers at least 100 times before being recycled
Nature's Path employees participated in the company's 'Eat Well Do Good' event in 2020  
Highlights
Toronto ON, Vancouver BC, Richmond BC, Delta BC
Full-time employees in Canada
Senior executive who oversees initiatives
Vice President, Mission and Strategy
Formal strategy/policy name
yes
Green highlights
mandatory sustainability training for all new employees, EcoPac program (offers customers the same products but with 66% less packaging), supports the "How2Recycle" labelling system to help educate consumers, the "Bite4Bite" Love Crunch program, and the Eat Well Do Good employee volunteer program (in support of local food banks), first Canadian organization to join Loop (a global circular shopping platform for reusable, refillable product packaging), Envirobox program (reduced size of cereal box packaging by 10%, use of vegetable-based inks for printing and made from 100% recycled paperboard)
Noteworthy initiatives
partners with a number of organic farms in Canada and the United States, helping to ensure that over 48,000 hectares of farmland remain under organic stewardship
Building footprint includes
electric vehicle charging stations, onsite organic garden constructed and maintained by employees, LED lighting, extensive recycling program, water conservation
Extended recycling
offers an 11-stream recycling station, including organics, soft plastics, e-waste, styrofoam, chopsticks, pens and batteries (all locations aim for waste diversion rates of at least 90%), all 3 manufacturing plants are certified as zero-waste facilities by a third party
Commuter amenities
EV parking includes charger converter to charge all types of electric vehicles, walk to public transit, secure/sheltered bicycle parking, transit subsidies
Community partnerships
numerous organic industry associations (domestic and international), Climate Smart (works with the company to manage greenhouse gas footprint reporting, monitoring and reporting), EnviroKidz line of products (supports "1% for the Planet" with 1% of sales donated to environmental education and related initiatives around the world) has raised over $4-million so far to support a number of organizations such as the Wild Earth Allies (Cambodia), Amazon Conservation Team (Colombia), and sea turtles (Costa Rica, Belize, El Salvador), to name only a few