We are continually looking at ways to reduce the amount of waste our stores generate that goes to the landfill.To this end we have partnered with RecycleSmart to increase the rate at which waste materials at our stores are diverted for recycling and composting.As well, meat trimmings from many of our stores are recycled by West Coast Reduction and turned into pet and livestock feed as well as ingredients used in fertilizers, soaps, lubricants, detergents, and biofuel. |
New standards in lighting, HVAC, refrigeration systems and building controls have been implemented to maximize energy efficiency in the new stores we design. Existing stores are being retrofitted to reduce energy consumption.Refrigeration Systems
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Being based in Beautiful British Columbia, we strive to source local products from sustainable vendors. Our focus on sourcing locally produced food reduces the transportation required and the carbon footprint that these products generate
Seafood
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In 2020 we launched a food rescue program in partnership with FoodMesh to divert all edible food out of the waste stream and to the highest end use. All 29 of our stores are on the program and are partnered with 200 charities
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We conduct ongoing assessments of our packaging with a goal of ensuring it is recyclable or compostable. Currently 90% of our packaging material meets this target.
• Our produce department has switched to fiber containers for berries, tomatoes, and stone fruits like peaches and nectarines.• Our bakery department has switched to plastic containers made out of PET which is the easiest type of plastic to recycle, and is also piloting a program using Bottle Box which is a packaging made 100% out of recycled pop bottles.• Plastic shopping bags have been phased out of a third of our stores, and will be phased out of all stores in the Spring of 2023.• Plastic straws have been eliminated in our cafés and deli departments.• Reusable utensils and straws are available for purchase in our deli departments and cafés to help reduce single use plastic waste.• We transitioned to Phenol-free receipt paper at all stores in 2021 and are transitioning to paper gift cards.• We have also partnered with Reusables.com on a pilot program to provide customers with an option for reusable containers in our Deli, Bakery and Meat departments.Where sustainable alternatives are not available,
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References to dates are as of October 1, 2021
Contact: Tom Truchan, Manager of Sustainability