Mindful Chef's Advocacy & Lobbying Policy

1. Purpose

As a Certified B Corporation, Mindful Chef believes business should be a force for good. Working with government and policymakers is one of the most effective ways to drive systemic change and collective action, and we will only undertake advocacy where it delivers tangible benefit to society or the environment, and aligns with our business values.

This policy sets out how Mindful Chef engages with public officials. It exists to ensure that every interaction is conducted with integrity, legitimacy, consistency, transparency and accountability, and remains firmly aligned with our values and sustainability ambitions.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

• All employees, contractors, and consultants
• All third parties acting on behalf of Mindful Chef
• All direct and indirect lobbying and advocacy activities

No advocacy activity may be undertaken without prior approval from Mindful Chef's CEO.

3. Definitions

• Advocacy: Any activity where a company seeks to inform or influence public policy, decision-making or systemic change.
• Lobbying: Direct or indirect engagement with public officials, policymakers, or regulators to influence legislation, regulation, or government decisions.

4. Guiding Principles

Our approach combines B Corp expectations with best practices.

Principle	Commitment
Purpose-Driven Advocacy	We shall advocate only for policies that: Deliver positive societal and/or environmental impact Align with our ambition, including nutrition, climate (including the reduction of packaging), human rights and reducing food waste Support long-term systemic change rather than narrow commercial interests
Evidence and Integrity	Our position will be grounded in credible evidence We shall communicate honestly, accurately, and transparently
Transparency and Alignment	We are open about: Our policy positions and advocacy priorities Material lobbying activities and expenditures (where appropriate) We will publicly disclose relevant information through our annual Impact Report or other appropriate channels.
Integrity and Fair Participation	We respect the democratic process and the role of diverse stakeholders We do not seek disproportionate influence or privileged access We engage constructively and collaboratively
Political Neutrality	We do not make financial or in-kind contributions to political parties, candidates, or political organisations Any exception requires Board approval and would be disclosed in our Impact Report

5. Third-Party Engagement

We recognise that advocacy can occur indirectly through third parties.

When engaging with trade associations, governmental or quasi-governmental organisations, consultants or advisors, we will:

• Require adherence to this policy
• Seek to influence partners toward alignment
• Withdraw from organisations where significant misalignment persists

6. Governance and Oversight

6.1 Roles and Responsibilities

• Leadership Team: Ultimate accountability; annual review and approval
• Extended Leadership Team: Ensures organisational alignment and day-to-day implementation and approval of advocacy activities

6.2 Training and Culture

• Training for employees
• Ongoing awareness and guidance

6.3 Zero Tolerance for Corruption

• We prohibit bribery, facilitation payments, and improper influence
• No gifts, hospitality, or incentives may be used to influence public officials
• All activities comply with applicable anti-corruption laws and internal policies

7. Stakeholder Engagement and Grievance Mechanisms

We provide accessible channels for stakeholders, employees and the general public to raise concerns about our advocacy practices.

• All concerns are treated confidentially and investigated promptly
• Employee issues are managed in line with our grievance procedure
• We have an anonymous reporting platform called Speak Up which enables members of the public or stakeholders to report any concerns.

8. Continuous Improvement

We commit to continuously strengthening our advocacy practices by:

• Monitoring evolving best practices and regulations
• Reviewing this policy annually
• Incorporating stakeholder feedback