Climate Action Plan

ARVA FLOUR MILLS

Farm to Table Since 1819

Climate Action Plan

Reference: B Lab CA 2.1   ·   First issue: June 2026   ·   Next full update: June 2029

1. Purpose and 1.5°C Commitment

Arva Flour Mills has milled flour on the same site north of London, Ontario since 1819. We support the global ambition to limit warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and intend to run this business in a way that is consistent with that ambition. This plan sets out how Arva will measure, manage, and reduce its environmental impact over the years ahead.

2. Scope of the Plan

This plan covers all of Arva Flour Mills' operations within the scope of B Corp certification:

●       The mill (roller milling, packaging, storage, and shipping).

●       The Mill Store retail operation.

●       The Red River Café (on-site café and bakery).

●       Owned and operated vehicles used by the business — currently a 100% electric fleet (one electric delivery truck running ~40,000 km/yr, plus one electric passenger vehicle used for sales calls).

●       On-site Level 2 EV charging infrastructure, including a public-access charger offered free of charge to the community and listed publicly on PlugShare and other EV-charging apps as a destination charger.

Co-packed product (Red River Cereal at Everspring Farms; gluten-free baking mixes at BCC Foods) is sourced from named Ontario co-packers operating their own certified facilities. Their environmental performance is reviewed annually under our Procurement Human Rights Assessment (HR 4.2) and supplier review process.

3. Identified Impact Areas

Arva's footprint is shaped by a small number of clear impact areas. We have identified each qualitatively in this first plan and will quantify them once the FY2026 baseline is complete.

●       Energy — hydro electricity for milling, retail, café equipment, refrigeration, lighting, and EV charging (mill fleet plus public Level 2 charger).

●       Fuel — propane for the mill's forklift (the only propane use at Arva; building heat and process heat are electric). Arva's on-road vehicle fleet is fully electric; there is no operational gasoline or diesel use by company vehicles.

●       Upstream grain transport — primarily from Arva Grain Corp. across the highway and other Ontario / Canadian growers, kept deliberately short.

●       Downstream delivery — wholesale and e-commerce shipments run on the electric delivery truck (~40,000 km/yr), with the fuel impact concentrated in upstream grid electricity rather than tailpipe emissions.

●       Packaging materials — paper bags, boxes, and labels sourced from Canadian printers.

●       Waste — cardboard, paper, café organics, and landfill residuals.

●       Water — municipal use for café, retail, and washroom operations.

4. Actions and Targets (SMART)

In line with B Lab's CA 2.1.2(b) guidance, targets may be qualitative or quantitative and need not include a specific GHG reduction number at this stage. Arva commits to the following actions:

5. Resourcing (Human, Technical, Material)

Implementation of this plan is the responsibility of the Directors of Arva Flour Mills (Mark Rinker, Jo-elle Rinker), supported by:

●       Dustin Blackall (General Manager and Head Miller) — operational lead for energy, equipment, and waste actions.

●       Matthew — Sales lead for shipping consolidation and customer-facing communication of climate commitments.

●       External support as needed — utility audits, lighting contractors, and B Lab guidance materials.

A specific budget line for climate-related capital and operating spend (lighting, equipment efficiency, baseline measurement) is reviewed at each PSG 5.1 Annual Directors' Review. Arva is a small, owner-operated business; resources are committed at the scale Arva can responsibly carry, and adjusted year to year.

6. Stakeholder Engagement

Arva's stakeholder map (PSG 2.1.1) and stakeholder engagement process (PSG 2.1.2) feed directly into this plan. Material input from any of the groups below is reviewed by the Directors and reflected in plan updates where appropriate.

7. Publication and Access (CA 2.1.1)

This Climate Action Plan is published on the Arva Flour Mills website footer, alongside the Responsible Lobbying Policy (GACA 1.1). The plan is publicly accessible at no cost and without account creation. A printed copy is also available at the Mill Store on request.

8. Review and Update Cycle (CA 2.1.3)

●       Light-touch progress review at each PSG 5.1 Annual Directors' Review.

●       Full plan refresh at minimum every 36 months. Next full refresh due June 2029.

●       Material changes (new impact area, retired target, change of governance) are recorded in the Annual Review Record and an updated version of this plan is reissued and republished.

9. Approval by Highest Governing Body (CA 2.1.2.e)

Arva Flour Mills is owner-operated. The highest governing body within the scope of certification is the Directors, Mark Rinker and Jo-elle Rinker. By signing below they approve this plan and commit Arva to its implementation.

Approved by the Directors of Arva Flour Mills