We are the stewards of precious natural resources

Our daily efforts fulfill the mission to apply ecological principles to our business practices.

As integral team players, we have envisioned, organized, and driven the Green Mission at Whole Foods Markets stores. The sustainable business practices being applied are the fulfillment of an emergent economic system based on ecological principles.

Some resources take eons to replenish themselves, and are non-renewable in our lifetime. We also recognize the abundance of energy given to us by the sun: there is no energy shortage. We can, and we are, supplying our energy needs with current solar, wind, and biomass technologies.

The Earth is a system open to solar energy and closed to matter. Life here exists because photosynthesis occurs and the green cell gives us a source of economic value. The green cell is a sustainable resource.

Edutainment


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Clerk Culling
We've come a long way

(Clerk culling into wax cardboard: image circa 2001)

The grocery business provides a tremendous amount of food. This food comes from the green cell whether literally, as vegetables or grain, or as meat from animals that fed on the grain. In sustainable ecology there is no waste. What appears as waste is food for something else. This cyclic principle rules and is non-negotiable. All of the green "waste" in a supermarket can feed the cycle through composting. This compost becomes topsoil amendment and the cycle continues.

 

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Into the Future

What are some of the emerging trends for the WFM Green Mission?

You tell us!

Send us an email with your ideas, comments, or opinions!

 

Facets of the Green Mission (2004)

Green Product Development (with infrastructure): each subsystem will need to think in terms of changing to a green analog product, whether it’s in the building, or in the warehouse, or foodservice, etc.

Sense of Urgency: the case for the Green Mission as a core business value -- largely because it is economical -- and the measurements (growth and profitability) are better in 7 to 10 years.

Green Energy: all the “electrons” can be from a green source (solar, wind, biomass), certified green and promoted as such.

Green Buildings: includes design, materials and other artifacts, energy efficiency.

Zero waste management:
Recycling
Reusing
Reducing

Composting: a specific recycling need in the supermarket industry, due to supply of compostables through our business.

Training, Education, Marketing: yearning to be green through learning. Greening the audience, medium, and message.

 

Green Mission Values

(From: www.wholefoods.com)

"As a participant in the movement to a sustainable world, WFM is leading by example within the context that we know best: organic food and natural products, and sustainable and ethical business practices. "

"Organics is at the root of everything we do. Organic agriculture produces food that promotes the health of consumers, farmers and the earth, with an eye to maintaining that health far into the future. Organic farming is a hopeful enterprise, practiced with compassion and empathy for the land and the creatures upon it."
Stay Tuned

We will be reporting on the developing innovations and creations of the green team!

Page Trivia

Green Mission team members are multi-faceted!

To Bee or not to Bee?

To Bee

Wuzzzzzup with that?

Why Nature is Green

From Biomimicry

* Nature runs on sunlight.

* Nature uses only the energy it needs.

* Nature fits form to function.

* Nature recycles everything.

* Nature rewards cooperation.
Nature banks on diversity.

* Nature demands local expertise.

* Nature curbs excesses from within.

* Nature taps the power of limits.