Handsome Brook Farms is seeking proposals from qualified sustainability consultants to conduct a materiality assessment that will inform and refine our sustainability strategy, Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) reporting, and B Corp recertification goals. As a leading producer of certified organic, pasture-raised eggs, we are committed to regenerative agriculture, climate resilience, and ethical sourcing.
Handsome Brook Farms is a leader in certified organic, pasture-raised eggs, dedicated to regenerative agriculture and sustainability leadership. We work with family farms across the U.S. to produce high-quality eggs that align with our mission to build a better food system for animals, people, and the planet. This materiality assessment will help us strengthen our sustainability efforts as we continue to grow and lead in the organic egg industry.
Given our recent growth, we aim to reassess our key environmental, social, and governance priorities to ensure alignment with our expanded impact, evolving stakeholder expectations, and long-term sustainability commitments. This materiality assessment will guide strategic decision-making, enhance our disclosure efforts for CDP, B Corp, and Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), and identify key areas for improvement in climate, forests, and water security impact areas.
The materiality assessment should be a living document, adaptable to the evolving needs of Handsome Brook Farms and its affiliated businesses, including The Farmer's Hen and HBF Development. The assessment should provide a framework for continuous evaluation and updates to ensure ongoing relevance as the company grows and sustainability priorities shift.
The selected consultant will conduct a comprehensive materiality assessment to identify key sustainability priorities by assessing material ESG risks and opportunities related to organic, pasture-raised egg production, aligning findings with Handsome Brook Farms' business strategy, operations, and growth trajectory, and benchmarking against industry standards, peer companies, and regulatory frameworks.
The consultant will engage stakeholders through internal interviews with executives, the sustainability team, and supply chain partners and external engagement with retail partners, customers, investors, and NGOs. The consultant will work with the Sustainability team to develop a stakeholder materiality matrix ranking priority sustainability issues.
The assessment should align findings with CDP disclosure improvements in climate, forests, and water security, support B Corp recertification requirements including Science-Based Targets (SBTi) submission, and provide recommendations for third-party certifications and verifications such as FSC, AWS, and ISO 14064.
Deliverables will include:
The materiality assessment must consider all of our broader business operations ensuring alignment across all business units.
The consultant should develop a flexible framework that allows for periodic reassessment to accommodate business expansion, supply chain shifts, and emerging sustainability challenges. The ideal consultant or firm will have expertise in sustainability strategy, ESG reporting, and materiality assessments, proven experience with CDP, B Corp, SBTi, and regenerative agriculture frameworks, a strong background in food and agriculture sustainability, ideally within the organic and pasture-raised sectors, a track record of stakeholder engagement, risk assessment, and sustainability roadmap development, and experience working with mission-driven, high-growth companies.
Interested consultants should submit a proposal that includes an overview of the company or consultant's background, expertise, and relevant experience, a proposed approach and methodology for executing the materiality assessment, team composition and key personnel qualifications, an estimated timeline and key milestones, a detailed budget including consulting fees and additional expenses, and relevant work samples and client references demonstrating past experience in materiality assessments, ESG strategy, or sustainability reporting.
The deadline for proposal submission is March 31, 2025.
Consultant selection and notification will occur by early May 2025, with project kickoff anticipated in late May 2025 and final deliverables due by October 2025.
We look forward to receiving proposals and partnering on this critical initiative.