Our Values

We believe that making ethical choices every day is the best way to contribute to a better world.

E whakapono ana mātou ki ngā whakataunga matatika ia rā hei ara pai ake e whai wāhi ai mātou ki te ao pai ake.

Our Purpose

Our purpose is to connect you with shopping you can trust in order to create a kinder and more ethical future for everyone. 

Our Commitments

We are committed to:

  • organically grown food which promotes good health and the long-term care of our environment

  • environmental sustainability in order to preserve the earth’s resources for future generations and other species

  • fair trade and social responsibility because for us success includes the wellbeing of our staff, our customers, our local community, Aotearoa-New Zealand and the rest of the world.

It’s just common sense.

logo green on white

Our logo represents our 3 core values - organics, people, planet!

 

Organics

We’re proud to be the leading organic retailer in Aotearoa New Zealand! Organic food is grown without the use of chemicals that can harm humans, animals and the soil. Instead, organic growers use age-old sustainable solutions that enrich soil fertility at the same time as controlling weeds, disease and pests.

At Commonsense, we sell certified organic goods wherever possible. Certification gives us a third-party assurance that our growers and suppliers are really ‘walking the walk’ when it comes to meeting organic standards.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, the main certifiers are BioGro, Demeter, AsureQuality and Organic Farm NZ. We support Hua Parakore and we also accept international certifications accredited by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM).

Our commitment to organics goes beyond the products we stock: all our stores are certified by BioGro and we’re a member of the Organic Traders Association of New Zealand (OTANZ).

Organic food is good for you and good for the earth. It’s just that simple! Everything we sell must meet our rigorous buying principles.

 

Environmental sustainability 

At Commonsense, environmental sustainability is so much more than just a buzzword: it’s been one of our core values since 1991. We model a different way of doing business based on a respect for our interdependence with the land and its resources.

So, what does environmental sustainability mean in practice?  We’ve made the following commitments:

  • We sell organically grown food, which promotes good health and the long-term health of our environment;
  • We don’t knowingly stock any food that contains genetically engineered ingredients;
  • We sell environmentally friendly products that are safe for you and safe for the environment;
  • We use sustainable materials wherever possible;
  • We reduce energy use and increase efficiency; and
  • We re-use, reduce and recycle waste.

Everything we sell must meet our rigorous buying principles.

 

Fair trade & social responsibility 

Fair trade is how international trade should be. It’s a way of doing business where the benefits are shared fairly between producers, customers and the environment.Our commitment to fair trade is more than skin deep! Our co-founders Jim and Marion started Wellington’s first Trade Aid store, and Marion is also on the board of Fair Trade City Wellington. 

At Commonsense, we stock certified fair trade groceries whenever possible. It’s one of our core values and Buying Principles! We choose fair trade uniforms from Little Yellow Bird and our shopping bags are made from Fair Trade, organic cotton from Ecobag.

Together, by selling and buying fair trade, we’re supporting:

  • A fair and stable price for producers;
  • Long-term trading relationships;
  • Investments in local community development;
  • Opportunities for producers to gain knowledge & skills needed to operate in the global market; and 
  • Environmentally sustainable farming methods.

Whether we are working with staff, suppliers and growers in Aotearoa New Zealand or overseas, we believe we have a responsibility to act with integrity. 

We're proud that every year, on average between 6%-10% of our profits go to supporting initiatives that share our values. 

Find out more about the way we operate in our Ethical Trading Policy. 

 

Commonsense