Sustainability


“Our goal is to be climate positive and carbon negative.”

— Taryn Brice-Rowland, Co-Founder, Rogue Oysters.

At Rogue Oysters, we do things a little differently. In fact, we named our company to honor our ethos of escaping “the way it’s always been” and pursuing a path less traveled, in essence, going rogue.

From the very beginning, our focus has been to improve the environment and to empower our community. We exercise this belief through our packaging, harvesting disciplines, and hiring practices. From solar lights to a living wage, we strive to leave the world better than we found it.

Oysters and The Bay

Did you know that a single mature oyster can clean 50 gallons of water a day? At Rogue Oysters, we’re growing one million oysters a year. Our oysters purify almost 50 million gallons of water a day, providing clean and safe water for fish, crab, clams, and shrimp to grow and prosper in the Bay. 

This simple act of cleaning the Chesapeake Bay waters is why we went rogue. Our dedication to a clean environment compelled us to leave our corporate lives and pursue aquaculture. It’s hard, damanding work, but we wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Packaging

All of our packaging has been carefully evaluated and selected. Our shipping boxes are completely recyclable cardboard. We use biodegradable insulation to ensure a consistent and safe temperature. The cold packs used to keep our oyster at a safe temperature during transit are entirely biodegradable. We’re always looking for opportunities to decrease the environmental impact of our packing materials.

Our Community

At Rouge Oysters, we believe in community. Not only are we active members of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Chesapeake Bay Oyster Alliance, and Shellfish Grower’s Climate Coalition, we donate 5% of our pop-up sales in Fredericksburg to Friends of the Rappahannock. We are active participants in our environmentally focused groups and strive to bring the environment to the forefront of our conversations with our community.

Working the water has a deep history in Virginia and has been a part of our community for hundreds of years. We practice inclusive hiring practices, keeping our jobs local, and hiring without discrimination of race, religion, or creed. We encourage minorities to be a part of our team and provide opportunities to the underserved.