report Archives - Community Food Co-op

Sustainability In Action

by Melissa Elkins, Sustainability Coordinator

Co-op staff contributes to our sustainability commitment by using alternative transportation to commute to work. Emissions from workforce commuting decreased despite an increase in staff—28 percent of total commuting miles were attributed to alternative transportation.

Go Co-op!

The Co-op Difference. We’ve been talking a lot about it, and will continue to do so because it is what truly differentiates us from other grocery stores.

It’s our commitment to a triple bottom line that accounts for people, profits, and planet.

Our commitment to give back to our community, with donations and free community-building events like our annual summer party. Our commitment to community education through our Healthy Connections cooking and wellness classes and The Real Food Show elementary school assembly program. Our commitment to support local, sustainable agriculture in our community via the Co-op’s Farm Fund. Our commitment to our 10-year strategic plan goals that keep us on track. And, our commitment to sustainability.

The Co-op joined the Sustainable Food Trade Association (SFTA) in 2012. In doing so we are required to report annually on our sustainable business practices in 11 action categories. Our first full report covered the 2013 business year, and now that we have completed two more reports we are excited to share the measurable progress of our commitment to sustainability with you.

Sharing these results informs Co-op staff and shoppers on ways to work even harder to improve our already strong environmental business practices.

It takes all of us to make these changes. Much of our progress is driven by our shoppers’ conscious purchasing choices, like the fact that paper shopping bag use by Co-op shoppers averages only .13 bags per customer. Not sure how you all do that, but keep it up.

Learn More About the Co-op's Sustainability

If you really want to dig in and see how the Co-op has committed to sustainability read more, including our reports to the SFTA.

2013 Report on Sustainability

by Melissa Elkins, Sustainability Program Coordinator

Keeping it Local 15% of produce was purchased from watcom county farmers at Community Food Co-Op

Since opening our doors in 1970, the Community Food Co-op has followed a triple-bottom line business philosophy that places equal emphasis on economic vitality, social responsibility, and environmental responsibility.

animal stewardship at community food co-op meat department sold 87% free-range chicken 11% grass-fed beef, 29% free-range pork, 39% cage free eggs, 53% free-range, 52% organic eggs

In 2010, the Co-op started tracking its performance specifically as it relates to sustainability. In 2012, Melissa Elkins was hired as the Co-op’s Sustainability Program Coordinator. In 2013, the Co-op joined the Sustainable Food Trade Association (SFTA).

Along with a handful of our fellow food co-ops, we are the only grocers in Washington state that are SFTA members.

Reducing Waste 88% of community food co-op waste was composted or recycled

In April 2014, the Co-op filed its first full annual sustainability report to the SFTA—50 pages of detailed information reporting on the 2013 calendar year. The Co-op will continue to file reports annually to track our sustainability performance
over time.

Shown here are snippets from the condensed version of the report, which is available in our stores.

Paper Use at Community Food Co-Op 49% reduction in purchase of paper grocery bags, 79% of packaging can be recycled or composted, 54% of deli, bakery, and meat packaging is accepted by FoodPlus

“We’ve been collecting a vast amount of information and corralling it into a massive spreadsheet, so we could track our progress. Writing the first sustainability report based on that info was a huge undertaking, but it was extremely gratifying to see that the Co-op really is making great strides in our sustainability efforts!”

—Melissa Elkins, Sustainability Program Coordinator