Responsible Manufacturer Benchmark - Indian Creek Nature Center, Etzel Sugar Grove Farm

By CommonShare

Indian Creek Nature Center, located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is a pioneering organization that has been at the forefront of environmental education, sustainable living practices, and land restoration since its establishment in 1973. The center offers a wide variety of nature-inspired events and programs throughout all seasons, aimed at bringing learning to life and fostering a deeper connection with the natural world. With over 500 acres of protected woodlands, prairies, and wetlands, Indian Creek Nature Center provides a sanctuary for individuals to escape into nature and experience its healing powers on 7 miles of trails.

One of the key differentiators of Indian Creek Nature Center is its commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within the environmental sector. The organization actively works towards creating a welcoming and safe environment for all individuals to enjoy the outdoors, recognizing the importance of representation and inclusivity in nature-related activities. Through ongoing staff training and educational programs, Indian Creek Nature Center is dedicated to addressing issues of racism and inequality, while striving to diversify its opportunities and programming to better serve its community.

As a champion of nature and environmental stewardship, Indian Creek Nature Center continues to make notable achievements in its mission to create Champions of Nature through education and inspiration. The organization's strategic focus on promoting sustainable living practices and conservation efforts underscores its dedication to building a more resilient and ecologically conscious future. With a strong emphasis on community engagement and volunteerism, Indian Creek Nature Center remains a trusted resource for individuals of all ages who seek to explore, learn, and protect the wonders of the natural world.

Overall Rating

1.0

Under-Performing

Traceability

An increasingly important factor in global supply chains, traceability assesses the manufacturer's capability to track products and materials from origin to delivery. The Sustainable Manufacturers Benchmark® explores this through the lens of tiered supplier verification, culminating in end-to-end traceability with real-time monitoring and complete transparency.

Digitized Products

The digital landscape has transformed B2B interactions. This facet assesses the extent to which manufacturers have digitized their product offerings. The spectrum ranges from manufacturers without any online product catalog to those boasting advanced B2B e-commerce platforms, providing clients with order customization, real-time tracking, and an integrated view of the supply chain.

Preferred Materials

This aspect gauges the extent to which manufacturers incorporate sustainable, circular, and regenerative materials in their supply chain. It assesses whether companies merely use standard materials or whether they actively prioritize sustainable and preferred materials in their product range, even going so far as to offer digital verification of material certificates.

Facility Verification and Services

This dimension evaluates the openness and commitment of manufacturers regarding their facility's conditions and services. It covers a spectrum, from providing no facility details at all to showcasing comprehensive third-party audits, ensuring transparency in worker welfare and showcasing a clear commitment to maintaining top-tier facility services.

Readiness to Contract

Before entering a partnership, it's pivotal to understand a manufacturer's business legitimacy. The Sustainable Manufacturers Benchmark® checks for the presence and verification of essential documents, ranging from basic business licenses to comprehensive documentation, client testimonials, and even third-party attestations that verify a manufacturer's reliability and readiness to contract.

Indian Creek Nature Center, Etzel Sugar Grove Farm

United States

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How our Responsible Manufacturer Benchmark® Works?

By CommonShare

The Responsible Manufacturer Benchmark is a comprehensive framework designed to evaluate and rate manufacturers based on their commitment to sustainability, digital integration, readiness for contracting, material sourcing, and facility standards. It provides a clear, standardized metric for assessing manufacturers in a B2B environment, helping businesses make informed decisions aligned with their sustainability objectives. The benchmark covers crucial areas like end-to-end traceability, the digital verification of supply tiers, utilization of preferred materials, and verified social audits for facilities. By incorporating both depth and granularity across its criteria, the benchmark not only promotes transparency but also encourages continuous improvement in responsible manufacturing practices.