Sustainability

Vitacress’ sustainability development is underpinned by four main policies: –

  • Environment which encompasses water, waste, energy and biodiversity
  • Social responsibility which encompasses people and community engagement
  • Health and safety
  • Food safety and quality

By adopting these policies we continually review and focus upon any emerging threats and opportunities within the wider global sustainability agenda to ensure our impact is positive and that our current developments are not compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
What this means for Vitacress is that we are continually challenging ourselves:–

  • to minimise our environmental footprint
  • to meet all of our obligations to Human Rights, the Modern Slavery Act, the Ethical Trading Initiative and local labour legislation and regulation
  • to educate and develop our employees
  • to engage with local communities in cultural, social and educational areas
  • to minimise any occupational health and safety risks
  • to ensure the safety and quality of our products

Vitacress’ Certification Standards

  • BRC Global Standard Food Safety 
  • Conservation Grade
  • Red Tractor Fresh Produce Standards
  • GlobalG.A.P.
  • ISO 14001
  • LEAF Marque Standard – Linking Environment And Farming
  • National Farmers’ Union Watercress Association Code of Practice
  • OHSAS 18001
  • Defra Approved Trader Status
  • Soil Association Organic Standard 
  • IGD
  • International Plant Propagators Society
  • Royal Horticultural Society
  • ETI Base Code
  • Customer accreditations

Current Sponsorship

  • Basingstoke Consortium Skillstree
  • Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE – Hampshire Countryside Awards)
  • Food for Good (Farm Africa)
  • The Haven  - a national charity providing personalised care and support for people with breast cancer
  • Vitacress Conservation Trust
  • Vitacress Community Fund
  • Vitacress/Royal Horticultural Society Herb Young Photographer of the Year
  • Wildlife Trusts

Recent Initiatives

Vitacress leads in conservation, ensuring our farms in the UK and Europe enhance the natural environment. This includes the identification of locally important species and habitats. Our dossier includes:-

  • Supporting work on preserving white-clawed crayfish populations in the UK
  • Habitat restoration for spur-thighed tortoises on our Spanish leaf farms
  • Riverbank preservation for water voles in Chichester
  • Built an otter holt at Abbots Ann farm
  • Barn owl boxes installed across serveral of our sites

Está a aceder em Portugal. Gostaria de seguir para o site da Vitacress Portugal?

Sim | Não, continuar para o site do Reino Unido.


It looks like you’re from Portugal. Would you like to proceed to Vitacress Portugal?

Yes | No, continue to the UK site.

Het lijkt erop dat je onze website bezoekt vanuit Nederland of België. Wil je doorgaan naar de website van Vitacress Real?

Ja, graag | Nee, ik wil graag de website van Vitacress UK bezoeken.


It looks like you’re from the Netherlands. Would you like to proceed to Vitacress Real?

Yes | No, continue to the UK site.

Es sieht aus das Sie unsere Webseite besuchen von aus Deutschland. Möchten Sie gerne weitergeleitet werden zur Webseite von Vitacress Real?

Ja, gerne | Nein, ich möchte gerne die Webseite von Vitacress UK besuchen.


It looks like you’re from Germany. Would you like to proceed to Vitacress Real?

Yes | No, continue to the UK site.