Responsible Manufacturer Benchmark - Oxbow Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the Environment

By CommonShare

Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center, located in Carnation, WA, is a leading institution dedicated to sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation. As an organization, Oxbow focuses on bringing the farm experience to students through its OxEd winter program, encouraging individuals to become a "Force of Nature" by actively contributing to a healthier ecosystem. Oxbow volunteers are instrumental in building a resilient future by researching and practicing regenerative agriculture, growing food and native plants, restoring habitats for wildlife, and educating people of all ages on the importance of these initiatives.

At Oxbow, their core products and services revolve around agriculture, native plants, education, and conservation. With a strategic location just 25 miles from Seattle, Oxbow serves as a hub for connecting individuals to nature and providing them with the knowledge to improve community and planetary health. The center's unique value propositions lie in its hands-on approach to learning, its emphasis on regenerative practices, and its commitment to engaging a diverse range of individuals in environmental stewardship.

Oxbow's notable achievements include its impactful volunteer programs, innovative research in regenerative agriculture, and its role as a leader in environmental education. The center's target markets encompass a wide range of individuals, from local community members to outdoor enthusiasts, all sharing a common interest in creating a sustainable future. Oxbow's mission and values are rooted in promoting environmental stewardship, fostering connections to nature, and empowering individuals to make a positive impact on the world around them.

Looking ahead, Oxbow's strategic direction involves expanding its educational programs, furthering its research in sustainable agriculture, and continuing to advocate for environmental conservation. With a strong geographic presence in the Pacific Northwest, Oxbow is poised to continue making a meaningful contribution to the field of sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship.

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.

Oxbow Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the Environment

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.