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      • Community Food Co-op, Downtown Store, 1220 North Forest Street at Holly StreetDowntown Store
        1220 North Forest Street at Holly Street
        Bellingham, Washington
        7 am - 9 pm
        360-734-8158
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        315 Westerly Road at Cordata Parkway
        Bellingham, Washington
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You are here: Home / Archives for earth day

Earth Day at the Co-op

At the Co-op, it's Earth Day Every Day. Sustainability is part of our quadruple bottom line and we're happy to be a model for sustainable business in our community. If you're interested in leaning in and finding ways to be easier on the Earth as a shopper, individual, and community member, check out our recommendations below.

SUSTAINABLE SHOPPING AT THE CO-OP

bulk section grocery items in glass jars

Our annual bulk sale is coming up next week and shopping in bulk is an awesome way to reduce the carbon-footprint (and the cost) of your grocery haul. Your first foray into the bulk section can be intimidating, but never fear, once you've gotten the process down you'll be coming back for bulk goods again and again. Check out this Instagram Reel we made on how to shop in bulk if you're unsure.

Remember, bulk goods aren't limited to nuts and granolas alone! The Co-op carries a huge assortment of bulk goods such as gluten-free pastas, soup mixes, candy, alternative flours for baking, dried seaweeds, teas, spices, and much more. You can also find liquid bulk goods such as cooking oils, honey, vinegars, and aminos.

Buying from the bulk department reduces the waste created by items packaged in small quantities. Without the need to manufacture packaging and send items through a packaging process, wholesalers can provide us bulk goods at a far lesser cost, and that savings is passed along to you!

You can bring your own containers to the bulk department, buy one of ours, or grab a one-time-use compostable bag.

SUSTAINABLE SWAPS AT HOME

If everybody swapped wasteful daily-use items for more sustainable alternatives, the impact would be HUGE. The Co-op's mercantile and wellness departments are chock-full of sustainable versions of items you use on the daily. Here are some of our faves!

DID YOU KNOW: Metal and glass can be recycled over and over again forever. Paper products can be recycled about seven times until they become too broken down to recycle further, but you can't really recycle plastic. In fact, only 9% of plastic ever created has been recycled. That's because plastic is incredibly complicated and expensive to recycle. Most businesses and recyclers do not consider it worth it, financially or environmentally, to attempt to recycle it. As a result, most is incinerated which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions OR it is left in landfills where it takes up to 500 years to break down and will never decompose entirely. Learn more about this by listening to How to Save a Planet podcast: Recycling! Is it BS?.

mineral sunscreen in a sustainable metal tin

Badger SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen

Badger Balm brings us a reef-friendly, water-resistant mineral sunscreen in a nifty tin! When your sunscreen is gone, you can reuse the tin or pop it into the recycling bin.

Reuse Idea: This tin is great for carrying jewelry, vitamins and supplements, or small snacks when traveling.

Island Thyme Deodorant 

Deodorant has historically been a plastic-intensive product—but no longer! Local company Island Thyme makes all-natural deodorant with ultra-gentle ingredients that come in a biodegradable paper tube.

sustainable paper tube natural deodorant
sustainable shampoo bars

Moon Valley Organics Shampoo Bars

When it comes to shampoo, it can feel like you have no choice but to buy a plastic bottle. Luckily, many brands are on a mission to change that by offering no-waste shampoo bars. We carry a few different bars at the Co-op, but we especially love these local Moon Valley Organics bars. They smell amazing and they're made with soothing herbs grown right here in Whatcom County.

Bulk Wellness Items

Bulk goes beyond food at the Co-op! Our bulk wellness section offers hand soap, dish soap, laundry soap, body wash, lotion, beeswax, and more. You can find all the same brands you love, such as Dr. Bronner's, Alba, E.O., and Moon Valley Organics. Bring an empty container from home to fill up or purchase a container from us.

bulk liquid soaps

SUSTAINABILITY AROUND TOWN

Getting rid of items that have minor imperfections can encourage us to buy more—often unnecessary—things. Instead of throwing something out when there's a minor rip or tear, take a mending class at the Ragfinery to give you and your family's garments more longevity.

Bike often? Sign up for Whatcom County Smart Trips to reap rewards from your sustainable commute—including 10% off an item of your choice at the Co-op!

Shop Secondhand: Bellingham has myriad options for finding unique secondhand items! Hit up Y's Buys for secondhand fashions—all proceeds go to the YWCA! Check out Penny Lane Antique Mall for one-of-a-kind vintage and contemporary home decor, and Henderson Books downtown is an oasis of secondhand literature. You could spend endless days there and never see it all!

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Buy Bulk, Save Money, and Reduce Waste

bulk grocery foods noodles beans popcorn pretzels cinnamon sticks pistachions pencils vegetable oil jars granola raisins

As shoppers become increasingly waste-conscious, buying from the bulk section becomes more popular every year

Welcome to the Bulk Department

The bulk department is all about saving money, reducing waste, and being better stewards of our environment.

The Co-op takes our commitment to sustainability seriously. To ensure we are upholding our commitment we publish an annual report with the Sustainable Food Trade Association. The report, which is available on our website, includes measurable results toward achieving our sustainability goals and helps us learn where we are succeeding and areas in which we can improve.

Co-op shoppers embrace sustainability through enthusiasm for purchasing bulk goods

One of the simplest ways Co-op shoppers embrace sustainability is through enthusiasm for purchasing bulk goods.

Reasons to Buy Bulk

Buying bulk saves money. Bulk foods bypass the extra expenses inherent in individually packaged products. Packaging design, manufacturing, shipping, and production costs are eliminated when foods are shipped in plain, large- quantity containers, and those savings are passed along directly to the consumer.

Buying bulk reduces packaging waste. Bulk quantities eliminate the need for individually packaged items thereby saving an immense quantity of bottles, jars, cans, and paperboard.

Buying bulk reduces food waste. Buy only as much of any product as needed, from one teaspoon of spice up to a 50-pound bag of oats.

Buying bulk increases product freshness. Co-op bulk departments are extremely popular, thereby ensuring product turnover is rapid. Bulk containers are refilled throughout the day simply to keep up with shopper demand.

Bulk Department Selection

The Co-op offers products in our bulk department that can’t be found just anywhere!

Beyond the typical dry goods—flours, rice, grains, pasta, and nuts—the Co-op bulk department also carries bulk honey, tamari, oils, vinegars, maple syrup, agave, nut butters, loose leaf teas, various dried seaweeds, soup mixes, and plenty of tasty snack items like coconut date rolls, cheddar cheese sesame sticks, and dried mango slices.

In the wellness and mercantile departments, you can find bulk cleaning products, laundry detergent, shampoos, lotions, and liquid and bar soaps.

Come explore our bulk selection—you might be pleasantly surprised! If you’re looking for a hard-to-find ingredient, need a little something extra to flavor a dish, want to try a new spice to expand your culinary repertoire, or you just need some shampoo, the bulk section will almost certainly have something for you!

If you can’t find what you’re looking for—please ask!

We love to answer questions about bulk foods and products. If we don’t know the answer to your question we’ll always go out of our way to find an answer for you.

photo of bulk grains, nuts, spices, bar soap in various jars and containers
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BULK| SUSTAINABILITY| THE CO-OP DIFFERENCE bulk| earth day| reduce waste| save money| sustainability

Buy Bulk! Save Money and Reduce Food and Packaging Waste

bulk beans and grains in scoops

As Earth Day 2019 approaches, here's one simple way to celebrate: buy bulk and help reduce unnecessary packaging waste.

The Founding of Earth Day

U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson founded Earth Day as an environmental teach-in first held on April 22, 1970. As our beautiful planet takes another trip around the sun, our thoughts turn once again toward learning more ways to be good stewards of our homes, our community, and our planet.

Our Commitment to Sustainability

The Co-op takes its commitment to sustainability seriously and to ensure we are upholding our commitment we publish an annual report with the Sustainable Food Trade Association. The report, which is available on our website, includes measurable results toward achieving our sustainability goals and helps us learn where we are succeeding and areas in which we can improve.

Your Commitment to Sustainability

Co-op shoppers have also demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability. You are motivated to bring your own reusable shopping, bulk, and produce bags; you are avid users of public transportation (we are happy to be located adjacent to Bellingham’s two bus depots); you commute by bike; and you embrace purchasing local goods to reduce the negative effects of long-distance transportation and to support our local economy.

One of the simplest ways Co-op shoppers embrace sustainability is through your enthusiasm for purchasing bulk goods.

saving money, reducing waste, and being better stewards of our environment

The bulk department is all about saving money, reducing waste, and being better stewards of our environment.

Reasons to Buy Bulk

Buying bulk saves money. Bulk foods bypass the extra expenses inherent in individually packaged products. Packaging design, manufacturing, shipping, and production costs are eliminated when foods are shipped in plain, large- quantity containers, and those savings are passed along directly to the consumer.

Buying bulk reduces packaging waste. Bulk quantities eliminate the need for individually packaged items thereby saving an immense quantity of bottles, jars, cans, and paperboard.

Buying bulk reduces food waste. Buy only as much of any product as needed, from one teaspoon of spice up to a 50-pound bag of oats.

Buying bulk increases product freshness. Co-op bulk departments are extremely popular, thereby ensuring product turnover is rapid. Bulk containers are refilled throughout the day simply to keep up with shopper demand.

Buying bulk is simple. Purchase a reusable container in the store or bring in your own clean container to refill. Simply remember to weigh your empty container (don't forget to include the lid), record the tare weight, write the 4-digit PLU number on the container, and fill with as little or as much product as you choose.

how to buy bulk soap at grocery store scale label

The Bulk Department Selection (and Beyond)

The Co-op offers products in its bulk department that can’t be found elsewhere.

Beyond the typical dry goods—flours, rice, grains, pasta, and nuts—the Co-op bulk department also carries bulk honey, tamari, oils, vinegars, maple syrup, agave, nut butters, loose leaf teas, various dried seaweeds, an wide array of spices, and plenty of tasty sweets and snack items.

In the household goods and personal care departments, you can find bulk cleaning products, laundry detergent, shampoos, lotions, and liquid and bar soaps.

Visit soon to explore our extensive bulk selection—you might be surprised. If you’re looking for a hard-to-find ingredient for a recipe, need a little something extra to flavor a dish, just want to try a new spice to expand your culinary repertoire, or maybe you just need some shampoo, it’s likely you’ll find what you need at the Co-op.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for—please ask!

We love to answer questions about bulk foods and products. If we don’t know the answer to your question we’ll go out of our way to find an answer for you. Co-op staff are happy to help and love to talk about food, cooking techniques, and favorite flavors.

Bulk Purchases in 2018

How popular is our bulk department? Turnover is rapid, because Co-op shoppers love to buy bulk! That rapid turnover ensures that the bulk products you purchase are fresh.

photo of bulk grains, nuts, spices, bar soap in various jars and containers
  • Oats: 45,039 pounds
  • Coffee: 46,613 pounds
  • Thompson Raisins: 7,591 pounds
  • Almonds (only almonds, including candy covered): 14,083 pounds
  • Anything containing almonds: 23,543 pounds
  • Quinoa: 4,613 pounds
  • Organic Black Peppercorns: 255 pounds
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Milk is being poured in a pattern on top of a latte.

Choosing Your Coffee Roast During the Annual Coffee Sale

How do you take your coffee? We talked with the owner of Hammerhead Coffee Roasters, Mitchell Steed, to learn about the differences between light, medium, and dark roast coffees.  The Community Food Co-op’s annual coffee sale is around the corner, September 17 and 18. Get 20% off all coffee including [...]
shade-grown coffee plants

What Do These Buzzwords Reveal About My Coffee?

What exactly does “fair trade” mean? Why should I buy shade-grown coffee? We’re here to answer all your coffee-related questions so you can shop with confidence.

antique white quinoa

Vendor Profile: Lundberg Family Farms

We were already big fans of Lundberg Family Farms and its delicious sustainably farmed rice and whole grain products, but now we have yet another reason to love Lundberg Family Farms—QUINOA! To be precise, quinoa grown in the U.S. and even in Washington state.

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DOWNTOWN STORE & DELI • map • 360-734-8158 • 7 am – 9 pm
meat and deli counter: 7 am – 7 pm
made-to-order counter: 7 am – 6 pm
salad/hot bar: 7 am – 6 pm

CORDATA STORE & DELI • map • 360-734-8158 • 7 am – 9 pm
meat and deli counter: 7 am – 7 pm
made-to-order counter: 7 am – 6 pm
salad/hot bar: 7 am – 7 pm

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