For Earth's Sake CIC is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company that informs and enables people and businesses to put the planet first by offering plastic-free and waste-free shopping with a keen eye on prices and provenance. Through helping the community to understand how to reduce and work towards reducing their carbon footprint the founders hope that shoppers become more aware of their actions and their choices to be more sustainable. For Earth's Sake is a company with several parts, the most visible being its plastic free shop in Upper House Lane, Stroud Common (south of Guildford and north of Cranleigh). March 2025 saw the completion of the first full trading year since the shop moved from Cranleigh High Street, where it opened in April 2019. It had been expected that footfall would decrease without a high street presence, though it was expected that any decrease in turnover would be commensurate with the significant reduction in costs of rent, rates and energy. Overall, this expectation has been correct, though some regular customers are still ‘finding’ the shop again following the move from the High Street, despite much pre-notice of the move, ongoing social media posts and advertising. Dispenser units measure out loose grocery and household goods into shoppers' own containers in the quantities they want. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free customers are catered for with sustainably sourced products of quality and high provenance. Seasonal vegetables and fruit are organically sourced, and local and UK suppliers are favoured. The company offers a village/community group shopping delivery services for neighbouring settlements – purchases are via their local eco shopping hub; customers place orders by phone, or simply by dropping off their bags and empty containers locally with a shopping list. For Earth's Sake collects the bags, does the shopping for our customers, and delivers shopped bags back to the village/community hub 24 hours later to be collected by the customer. Electric vehicles have been purchased and are used wherever possible. The shop has become a hub for caring, eco conscious shoppers, many coming from far and wide, alongside customers who want to economise through buying products without unnecessary and expensive promotion and packaging. This year, For Earth’s Sake has continued to ensure many thousands of plastic bottles and plastic bags are NOT going to landfill; none of For Earth's Sake's products are bought by customers packed in any plastic, and in over six years it has never given a new plastic bag to any customer. In addition to the retail arm, the team at For Earth’s Sake promote sustainability in all their activity; educate young people in schools and organised community groups on how to live sustainably; and informing the community where their food is sourced and the meaning of responsible sourcing. For Earth’s Sake also attends a number of fetes and fayres each year – these do not necessarily deliver income over and above the cost of preparation, setup, time on stand and cost of products, though are seen as an opportunity to inform the public of how they can shop plastic-free and waste-free, whilst also offering tangible advice of how to reduce plastic and waste usage in the home. The past year has seen the work of For Earth’s Sake noted through again winning several awards including SME News Awards 2025 – Eco-Conscious CIC and SME News Awards 2025 – Best Organic Fresh Fruit & Veg Retailer, Surrey. Solar panels generate much of the electricity usage for the shop, saving significantly on energy costs of the previous shop on Cranleigh High Street. For Earth's Sake’s ethos encourages people to reduce, refuse, refill, repair, repurpose, revisit, rethink and recycle. Its mantra is “Live your life... for your sake, for our sake, for Earth's sake!”

The company's stakeholders are the local community, the customers, the visitors, and the partners. The Director of the company has lived all her life in the area and has developed the business model for the shop based on feedback from residents / the community. In the early days of the shop, each customer was asked what they would like to see stocked and encouraged to put forward suggestions. In the past year customers’ requests for specific items have been considered, with several new items being stocked. Additionally, where tastes have changed and it has been noted a product may no longer be of interest it has been discontinued. For Earth’s Sake has an active mailing list and social media feeds, and this engagement allows the business to build a profile of local consumer needs and how they can be met more effectively. The partners to the shop include the local borough council, the local chamber of commerce and the parish council, all of which have been supportive. The last year has continued to be challenging for both customers and the business. The cost-of-living crisis, of which much has been discussed in the media over the past several years, is still having a major impact on customers' pockets. Despite inflation falling, the company’s suppliers are still increasing product costs. In some cases, an overall cost increase is due to higher energy costs, though also harvests of some items are being significantly impacted by climate change and the ongoing climate crisis, in particular harvests of coffee, cocoa beans and nuts where raw costs have increased significantly. For Earth’s Sake continues to deliver on its not-for-profit status, keeping margins tight and offering keenly priced high-provenance products for all. Future plans For Earth's Sake continues to plan its expansion of its village/community group shopping delivery services as well as direct delivery services, bringing a reduction in fossil fuel use and mileage by customers through delivery by For Earth’s Sake’s electric vehicles. A young Heritage Orchard planted over the past three years is growing well and is being used for community events including annual free-to-attend events such as a Winter Wassail and Midsummer Revels, in January and June respectively. Additionally, the orchard and surrounding gardens of the owner have been used either free of charge or with a peppercorn fee by local sustainable and environmental organisations, including the Man in the Moon theatre company (primarily children and young teenagers) and the Joanna Wildlife Hospital’s annual fundraising drive.

No remuneration was received

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration