Many people and businesses genuinely want to do the right thing for our planet.  Two years of study with The University of Exeter have taught us that the right thing is often far from obvious and frequently confounds initial expectations.

click on a question below to find some answers

• why have Riverford gone back to using normal (non-degradable) plastic bags?
• what is an eco-cool blanket and why not just use an old box?
• what does the CO₂ label on the Riverford box contents page mean?
• is it better to buy a hot house tomato in April than one trucked from Spain?
• is a paper bag better for the environment than a plastic one?
• how much difference would it make if all my vegetables were grown locally?
• are compostable plastics all they are cracked up to be?
• why is reduction and re-use so much better than recycling?
• where is the energy used in getting vegetables from farm to plate? 
• should our vans be running on biodiesel?
• should we put up windmills, build an anaerobic digester or change our lightbulbs?

After two years, we think we have the answers to these questions and many more. We have made this website to explain what we have learnt, what we still need to find out and how we are using that knowledge to make Riverford a more sustainable business.