Why we care
At Dalcini we believe that a healthy life starts with a healthy planet. We founded Dalcini to eliminate toxicants from everyday food storage and to make products with durable, endlessly recyclable stainless steel. Sustainability isn’t a feature of our mission; it is our mission.
That is why we commit to playing our part in limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, in line with the Paris Agreement. We are a small, woman-of-colour-founded company, and we know small businesses can still make a real difference.
Where our impact comes from
We design our products, but we do not run a factory. Our small team works remotely in and around Ottawa, so we have no large buildings or vehicle fleets. Most of our climate impact sits in our value chain: the stainless steel we buy, the packaging our products travel in, how our goods are shipped, and the travel we do for work.
As a small company, we are not required to produce a full carbon footprint, and our numbers are estimates for now. The largest emissions in our value chain belong to our suppliers, who are far bigger than we are, so our part is to choose well and collaborate: we screen suppliers every year and use our Supply Chain Impact Survey to understand how they measure and reduce their own impact.
Starting from strength
We built this company around a circular material. Stainless steel is durable, toxicant-free, and endlessly recyclable, so our core product is designed to stay out of landfill for good. Our inbound inventory already travels by sea rather than air, our shipping packaging is already plastic-free, and we already screen our suppliers every year. Our commitments below protect that foundation and push it further.
Our commitments
- Suppliers: each year, starting in 2026, we complete our supplier screening and our Procurement Impact Assessment, covering our active suppliers and our three most material purchases, and we keep the documented results on file.
- Shipping: we continue to ship 100% of our inbound inventory by sea rather than air, and we record any air freight exceptions each year.
- Packaging: we maintain 100% plastic-free shipping packaging (unprinted recyclable boxes, paper-based inner packaging, paper tape, and recycled paper void fill), and by the end of 2027 we will review our primary product packaging and report the share that is plastic-free.
- Materials: by the end of 2027, we will obtain the recycled content of our stainless steel from our steel producer's published sustainability reporting and share it with our customers.
How we will make it happen
People: Nita, our CEO and Founder, leads our climate work and approves this plan. Cynthia, who leads our operations, supports supplier screening and keeps our records.
Tools: our Supply Chain Impact Survey, our supplier screening checklist, a simple tracker for the commitments above, and free climate tools made for small businesses.
Money: we budget for packaging improvements and climate learning as the need arises, approved by Nita as part of our normal spending decisions.
Working together
Suppliers: we ask, listen, and choose partners who share our values, through our Supply Chain Impact Survey, Supplier Code of Conduct, Procurement Policy, and Procurement Checklist.
Customers: we share our progress openly, the wins and the things we are still working on, along with care and reuse tips that help our products last even longer.
Our team: everyone at Dalcini has a voice in how we pursue our impact, and climate is a standing part of how we plan our work together.
Staying accountable
This plan is approved by Nita Tandon, CEO and Founder, who oversees our social and environmental impact. We check our progress against these commitments once a year, we update this plan at least every three years, and we share our progress here on our website.
Nita Tandon
CEO and Founder, Dalcini Stainless
