How Can I Reduce My Plastic Use at the Co-op?
By Rianna Koppel, Sustainability Coordinator
Plastic pollution today is a global dilemma. Did you know that more than 40% of plastic is used once, then tossed? In 2015, 79% of total plastic waste ended up in landfills or the environment. How can our co-op help reduce the amount of single-use plastics? Luckily, we offer a variety of options for owners.
Stainless Steel Straws
Looking for a green smoothie boost on these hot summer days? After the success of the City of Ashland’s “Straws on Demand” pilot project, the Co-op will no longer offer single-use plastic straws. We provide paper straws upon request and stainless steel straws (which can be purchased for 75 cents at the Deli Counter).
Dine In and Save
Stopping in for a bite to eat at our Deli? You can save 15 cents when you use our in-house durable plates and bowls,or bring in a reusable container for drinks. Don’t forget your stainless steel straw! We also offer reusable sporks for $4.99.
Reusable Produce Bags - Coming soon!
Reduce your use of plastic produce bags and invest in our new reusable produce bags. Find them in the Produce Department mid to late September. These new bags are made from recycled plastic and can be washed by hand. They are large and strong enough to hold your kale, lettuce, or bunch of carrots. Other options include using recyclable paper bags, or washing and reusing plastic bags from home.
Clamshell Recycling
Additionally, we offer plastic clamshell recycling - with some important conditions. The Co-op will only take clean #1 PETE plastic clamshells for recycling that have been originally purchased at the store. One of our produce suppliers brings these recyclable plastics to International Paper for processing. Bring in your clean clamshells to a member of the produce department today!
Glass Containers
For bulk products, you can find clean, reusable glass containers by the hand washing sink, next to bulk liquids. You can also bring in your own clean containers for stocking up. Be sure to measure the tare weight of your container first - we have scales throughout the bulk section. Feel free to ask a co-op employee to help you find the glass containers or measure the tare of your container.
Plastic Wrap
What about plastic wrap? According to a webinar from the Climate Collaborative on bio-packaging and plastics, in the overall life cycle of a product, packaging is one of the lowest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Proper packaging can prevent product loss in transport and food waste at home, which has a greater impact on reducing these emissions. Currently, we are researching options for sustainable packaging that also reduces our use of plastic wrap. Maybe one day you’ll be able to bite into a seaweed-based edible sandwich wrap!
At the Co-op, our first goal for sustainability is to become zero-waste. We are committed to reducing our plastic use to the best of our ability by researching new options and providing the best choices to our owners. The road to zero-waste takes collaboration with producers, suppliers, manufacturers, retailers and consumers. We hope that these options provide ways for all of us to make easier choices that leave a positive impact on our local and global community.
More Co-op News
Fall Favorites from the Co-op
Like it or not, the cool weather has arrived. Whether you are heading out for a hike or enjoying a good book by the fire, the Co-op Deli has what you need to fuel your favorite fall activity. Stay warm with these comfort food recommendations from the Co-op Deli.
From the General Manager's Desk
By Emile Amarotico
A recent visitor commented that our parking is totally inadequate to our business volume. What’s true is that we cannot create more parking due to space and municipal code constraints. Thus, the value of each available space is increasing over time. Assuming only half of Co-op shoppers use automobile parking, each space supports at least $200,000 in annual sales.
Meet Board of Director Julie O'Dwyer
When not working on Board of Director efforts, my profession is an Interior and Building Designer. I own the Ashland Design Studio, located in the Historic Railroad District, and have a design services studio there - JulieO Design. I have been in the architectural design business my whole life; from crawling around my father's architectural studio to traveling around the world working on buildings large and small to now having created my own niche in the local building community. I took a few years off this path to own and run Tease Restaurant here in Ashland.
Nourish Your Family and Fight Hunger
The holiday season is upon us. Amidst the shopping frenzies, family gatherings, and parties it can be hard to remember this is also a season of giving. That’s why we want to make it easy for you to give back. So easy that it’s as simple as doing your everyday grocery shopping. You can nourish your own family and help fight hunger in the Rogue Valley.
For the month of November, we are once again teaming up with Smart Chicken® for the Smart Chicken® Smart Giving program.
Here’s how it works.
5 Reasons to Love Co-ops
By Laura Pfister, Media Coordinator
October is National Co-op Month, so what’s the big deal? Being a co-op is special. Yes, we know we are biased, but being a cooperative enterprise means we do business differently. We don’t have a single owner living on their private island drinking margaritas all day without a care in the world. We are owned and governed by you, our 10,000 members. We share the burden in hard times and share the benefits in the good times. We put people, the planet and our principles before profit.
From the General Manager's Desk
By Emile Armarotico
This spring, National Co-op Grocers recognized Ashland Food Co-op as a Co+efficient Sustainability Star for our excellent sustainability efforts.
Our Sustainability Vision aims at being carbon neutral by 2030. We’ve taken a great stride toward this by installing a 39 kilowatt solar electric system on our rooftop with the capacity to generate approximately 7% of our electricity usage. The cost was partially offset by a $27,000 REAP (Rural Energy for America Program) Grant.
Local Starts at the Co-op
When we say local, we mean local. We source our local goods from within 200 miles of the store. By purchasing goods from local producers, we aim to create and maintain a healthy local economy and support family farms. What could be better than helping your community by buying local goods?
With all the local products that we offer, it’s hard to pick a favorite. But that’s exactly what we asked our staff to do. Here are some of their go-to local eats.
Your Fruit. Your Cider.
How often can you browse the shelf at your neighborhood grocery store, see a bottle of hand crafted, local cider and say, “Hey, I help make that!” Well, at the Co-op you can.
Millions of Peaches, Peaches for Me
By Laura Pfister, Media Coordinator
Many of us wait all year for this moment. We spend the winter months dreaming of a certain fuzzy stone fruit, its sweet juices dripping from our face and the buttery golden pie crust those yellow-orange slices will inhabit.
Good news! The wait is over. That local, sweet orb of sunshine has finally arrived. That’s right. Rolling Hills peaches are here!
2017 Board Election Results
We're Sustainability Stars!
Deep in our hearts we've always known we were sustainability stars, but now we have an award to prove it.
We recently received a Co+efficient Sustainability Star award from National Co-op Grocers (NCG) recognizing our positive environmental and community impacts.
Co+efficient, NCG’s sustainability program, measures social, environmental and local economic impacts from participating food co-ops across the country.
Give Where You Live
It’s the most wonderful time of year! Yes, we know that phrase is generally reserved for the holiday season. But for us, this truly is the most wonderful time of the year. It’s OUR season of giving.
Dine In and Bike Your Way to Savings
Did you know that approximately half of our landfill waste stream is composed of Deli trash? A significant part of that is “to-go” containers, which are sometimes used for dining in and don’t end up “going” very far at all.
Sustainability matters in everyday actions and we want you, our customers, to help us reduce unnecessary waste and make the most ecologically sound choices possible.
Participate in YOUR Co-op!
Spring Picks
The sun is (mostly) out and the weather is finally getting warmer. That must mean summer is right around the corner, right? We sure hope so. We’re ready to grill, soak up some sun and enjoy the many fruits and vegetables that are in season. Our Floral Coordinator, Rachel Chastain, shares some of her favorites.