Environmental justice is at the core of our work as the Fife Seed Library. We recognise human beings as part of the natural world, and see minimising the negative impact on our surroundings as a non-negotiable part of continuing to exist on this planet.
When we constituted our group, we adopted this Environmental Impact Policy.
Some of the requirements of this policy cost more, or take more time than the alternatives. We are not interested in shortcuts or personal convenience. We will support our staff, volunteers and partners to adapt their participation to align with these values.
Learning and advocacy
We are always learning and coming to new understandings about the effects of our work on our local environment, and the longer term impacts on the global climate. Whenever possible our Management Committee, volunteers and staff will be offered training and development opportunities to increase our knowledge.
We raise awareness of local and global environmental issues as a regular part of our work. Staff and regular volunteers are expected to be familiar with the connections between seed sovereignty and global climate justice, and to be able to advocate for individual, institutional and structural change.
Growing and gardening practices
We do not use chemical pesticides, herbicides or fertilisers for any of our growing projects, and we use locally saved seed. We teach our volunteers and the public about why this is important, and how to do it themselves.
We do not use powered tools and equipment except when absolutely necessary.
We will prioritise using secondhand / repurposed / reclaimed / upcycled materials for our work. When we must purchase new materials, we will source from local businesses with sound environmental policies and/or practices where possible.
We are aiming to eliminate our use of plastic in the garden altogether.
We take responsibility for appropriately sorting, storing or disposing of any waste we generate in the course of our work, and will have in place an environmental management plan for any sites we operate.
Packaging and printing
We distribute our seeds in fully recycled, UK-produced, compostable packaging. We print our labels, posters, and informational materials on recycled paper using plant-based inks, which are also safe – and encouraged – for composting. We make our signs and displays out of repurposed, surplus materials (eg. scrap wood).
Travel
We aim to reduce the use of private motor vehicles to carry out our work.
We encourage cycling. Reimbursement of travel expenses for staff and volunteers will only be made for public transport, for bicycle mileage, or when a private vehicle is shared between two or more people. Exceptions to allow for participation of people with access issues or in extenuating circumstances will be made at the discretion of the Management Committee.
Food
All food served at our events, activities, and volunteering sessions will be plant-based, locally sourced, with minimal packaging.
IT
Computers are a necessary part of running a non-profit with reach across the whole of Fife. We do not depend on social media for outreach, but use it only to support our self-hosted outreach technology (our website, blog and newsletter) for which we can control the infrastructure on which it runs.
We priortise in-person outreach and connection, including local press.
We do not use LLMs (also known as generative AI) in any of our work due to the environmental and social harms. All of our blog posts, articles, emails,informational materials, and grant applications are written, reviewed and edited by humans, and our posters and graphics are hand-drawn. We do not accept contributions from volunteers, partners or the public which have been generated or edited using an LLM.