2020
SUSTAIN ABILITY REPORT
TABLE OF
CONTENTS Introduction .................................................................................................... 2 2030 Goals ..................................................................................................... 3 Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion .................................................................... 4 Renewable Energy ...................................................................................... 5 Strategic Energy Management ............................................................... 6 Rogue to Go .................................................................................................. 7 Bicycle Benefits ............................................................................................ 8 Food Waste & Recovery ........................................................................... 9 Local Economy ............................................................................................. 11 Community Leadership ............................................................................. 13 Change for Good ......................................................................................... 14 Member Owners ........................................................................................... 15 Rebuilding from the Ashes ...................................................................... 17 Economic Data ............................................................................................. 19
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ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020
Dedicated to the staff that make us stronger together. 2020 was a challenge for essential workers. In March, when canned goods and toilet paper began leaving our shelves empty, the Ashland Food Co-op showed up as a beacon of community resiliency. We masked up, stocked shelves together, and upheld store safety for all. In September, the Almeda Fire destroyed over 2,000 homes in our valley - including seven of our staff. We have experienced the effects of climate change first hand. In October, we made a commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity with the formation of the EDI Committee. We publicly stated that Black Lives Matter. We are grateful for our community’s support, and proud of what we can accomplish together.
Rianna Koppel Sustainability Coordinator
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020
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Zero Waste
As a zero-waste facility, we will minimize waste intake and maximize beneficial reuse and diversion from landfill.
Carbon Neutrality
We will be carbon neutral, conserve energy, and 100% powered by renewable energy.
Eliminate Toxic Chemicals We will use no persistent chemicals.
Sustainable Relations
We will model sustainability, justice, and equity in all of our relationships with employees, vendors, community, and other co-ops.
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ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020
EDI & BLM "What publicly stating that Black Lives Matter means to us is this: It is vital that we as Americans and business owners recognize, acknowledge and address our society’s collective history of unjust and inhumane treatment of Black People, many of whom are our own friends, neighbors and family members. There is overwhelming evidence that systemic inequity continues to be deeply embedded in our society’s structures, practices, and beliefs. It is critical that we bring attention, focus and energy to addressing all the ways this inequity gets expressed in our organization, and in our business and community relationships, and then to address them in the best way we can. We will not tolerate discrimination of any kind, nor intimidation based on any type of discrimination.
As one of hundreds of food cooperatives in America that have joined together to offer healthy food in a way that benefits each of our local communities, we have committed to be a business that cares about far more than our bottom line. We want what is best for our employees, our owners, our customers and our community. To honor that commitment in this time when taking a stand is so important, we proudly declare Black Lives Matter." - Statement from AFC Board President, Vice President, and General Manager
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020
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RENEWABLE
Energy
We look on the bright side toward the vision of an efficient, climate-friendly future. We have two solar arrays on our campus: a 12.42 kw system on our historic barn, and a 39 kw array on our store roof. Our total solar generation is over 51 kw! Through our Greenhouse Gas Emissions calculations we are offsetting 100% of our Scope 1 and market-based Scope 2 emissions. For the rest of our electricity, we purchase renewable energy certificates, carbon offsets, and water restoration certificates through Bonneville Environmental Foundation.
700 RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTIFICATES
Each REC is equivalent to the non-power environment attributes of 1,000 killowatt-hours of renewable energy and Green-e Energy Certified. Our RECs have contributed to the River Bend Solar Project and the Nine Canyon Wind Project Phase 3.
150 CARBON OFFSETS
Our Carbon Offsets are sourced from the Greater New Bedford Landfill Gas-to-Energy facility in Massachusetts. This amount of offset is equivalent to the reduction of 330,693 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent.
1,675 WATER RESTORATION CERTIFICATES
This is equivalent to 1,675,000 gallons of water restored to critically dewatered rivers and streams. Our certificates have supported projects along the Middle Deschutes River.
empowering business to be in balance
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ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020
In 2019, we began our first year in Energy Trust of Oregon’s commercial Strategic Energy Management program. This free program offers many benefits, including financial incentives and a part-time internship. The development of an annual Energy Policy has guided us in reducing our use of natural gas.
Strategic Energy Management
REDUCED NATURAL GAS USE BY 2.6% IN 2019
With our incentive funding, we invested in Smart NEST thermostats to regulate temperature store-wide. We used our funding to partner with Clean Hub, a plastic waste reduction company. With our help, Clean Hub recovered 932 lbs of ocean-bound plastic in Edavanna, India. The plastic was diverted to recycling and industrial co-processing. ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020
REDUCED 5.7% IN 2020! 2018 EMISSIONS
2019 NATURAL GAS USE 2
.6%
REDUCTIO
N!
2020 NATURAL GAS USE
5.7%
REDUCTIO
N!
Find us at
ashlandfood.cleanhub.com
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It’s an easy way to reduce waste and show that there is a better way to do take out! Single use containers and utensils create unnecessary waste and environmental impact through their manufacture, use, and disposal.
only $10
Eliminate y single use c our ontainers
In 2020, our team worked with the City of Ashland and Oregon Department of Agriculture to start the Rogue To Go reusable container program. This project was started by the City of Ashland and funded by a grant from the Department of Environmental Quality. Customers make a one-time purchase of a Rogue To Go container for $10. This reusable to-go container can be used at ten participating restaurants in Southern Oregon.
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Two options are offered - a clamshell and soup container. They are manufactured in Bend, Oregon, and upcycled at the end of life. While many reusable projects were halted due to the pandemic, our reusable to-go containers were still active!
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020
BICYCLE
Benefits
We participate in the nationwide Bicycle Benefits Program. Customers purchase a sticker for a one-time $5 fee. Put the sticker on your helmet, bike to the Co-op, and save 5% on each shop, which can be combined with any other discount. In 2020, 138 of our customers chose to join the program to reduce their carbon footprint with Bicycle Benefits.
Staff chose the
Green Way to Work
2,425 times in 2020!
This year we introduced new single-use utensils made from wood in the Prepared Foods Department. This small and significant change helps us to reduce plastic and invest in more sustainably sourced materials.
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020
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FOOD
Recovery PROGRAM
Food waste is a big deal to us. Up to 40% of the food in the United States goes to waste. According to Paul Hawken’s Drawdown, reducing food waste is #3 on the list of best ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. We follow the EPA’s Food Recovery Hierarchy as a guide to bettering our own practices.
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Imperfect produce is used for vegetable stock, hot bar meals, or the salad bar. Staff sorts and reuses peaches, strawberries, bananas, and more for bakery goods, smoothies, and cold bar desserts. After resourcing usable food, staff are welcome to glean the excess.
>28,000 lbs
of healthy, edible food diverted from landfill and given to those in need
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020
Every evening, the Ashland Food Angels pick up the rest of the edible, healthy food. The Angels donate this food to the Ashland Emergency Food Bank, which provides emergency food supplies, without charge, to individuals and families in the Ashland/Talent area who would otherwise go hungry. Our pre-consumer food scraps are donated to White Oak Ranch, a local farm raising pigs and cows. Deli and Produce staff collect these food scraps, making sure there are no rubber bands, paper wrapping, or metal twist ties that could injure the animals. Throughout 2020, over 100,000 gallons of food scraps were given to feed animals.
pre-consumer food scraps diverted to farm animals
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020
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SUPPORTING OUR
Local Economy Shopping at the Co-op helps community businesses and keeps more resources in our local economy. We offer a wide variety of local products from sprouts and herbs to soap and herbal tinctures. You can find local croissants, donuts, breads, cakes, and more in our Bakery department. Over 24% of all Bakery items are made locally. In 2020, we sold products from 201 local vendors. We added blue shelf tags on our aisles to highlight local products - so now they can be easily found on every aisle.
Total Sales from local products
$2,431,544 7% of total sales Local Vendors
201 Charitable Giving
>$52,501 PAGE 11
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020
We source our local goods from within 100 miles of the store.
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020
100 Miles
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COMMUNITY
Leadership At the Co-op, we are all about community. This past year has shown us what community really means. Our staff have worked throughout the pandemic, adapting quickly to new changes such as mask requirements and social distancing, while remaining patient and kind with each other. Employees from other departments came to one another’s aid when empty shelves needed to be filled, shipping trucks were delayed by days, and suddenly all bulk items needed individual packaging.
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The AFC Board of Directors graciously approved a “Hero Pay” increase of $2 per hour. Due to the pandemic, all employees became eligible to receive a $5 Employee Shift Meal Allowance.
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020
Ask your cashier to round up your total to the nearest dollar! Round up donations will support the AFC Community Fund for local non-profit grants.
In 2020, the AFC Gives committee started the "Change for Good" program. When shoppers choose to round-up their cart total at checkout, that amount is added up and donated to a highlighted organization for that month. Our customers raised over $149,306 from register donations in 2020.
BA CK
EA
IN
G
Y
GIV
RS
CHANGE FOR GOOD 2020 RECIPIENTS
F O R OV E R
25
Southern Oregon Land Conservancy Klamath Siskiyou Wildland Center Almeda Fire Relief Rogue Farm Corps Maslow Project Pollinator Project Rogue Valley Ashland High Arts Advocates Rogue Valley Farm to School Ashland Parks Foundation Our Family Farms Rogue Valley Mentoring
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020
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With passion, purpose, and a whole lot of love, we’re more than just a grocery store. From our humble beginnings in 1971 as a food-buying club to our current status as Southern Oregon’s first and only Certified Organic Retailer, over 12,000 members strong, the Ashland Food Co-op has been connecting our community to healthy, local food for decades. Our cooperative business model is at the core of all we do. Quite simply, we place people, principles, and the planet before profit—always.
Our exceptionally high standards give customers confidence, knowing that we prioritize our relationships with local farmers and food producers first and fill our store with healthy products you can trust. Sales from Owners
$24.3 M Sales from Other Shoppers
$6.6 M Total Patronage Dividend
$476,500
Average Patronage Dividend by Owner
$69.67
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ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020
Members Joined in 2020
370 Total Members
12,274 We would like to extend a thank you to more than 8,213 owners who shopped with us last year. Did you know?
79% of sales come from owners
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020
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Rebuilding
FROM THE ASHES In late summer, Southern Oregon was left in devastation from the Almeda Fire. On the morning of Tuesday, September 8th, a fire started north of Ashland and rapidly spread northwest through Talent, then Phoenix, and was stopped south of Medford. At least 2,357 structures were destroyed, including the homes of thousands of residents and several of our staff. Many employees were evacuated and displaced for weeks.
The Co-op is deeply grateful to the community for their generosity and mutual aid as we continue to rebuild. We are always stronger together.
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For immediate support, the Co-op gave $1,000 to staff who lost their homes in the fires, as well as $250 for food and other household needs for anyone displaced due to a level 3 evacuation order. The Co-op’s Almeda Fire Relief Fund raised over $110,000, and was distributed to 15 local organizations working on fire relief efforts. The Co-op team also reached out to vendors across the region and country to ask for their help with products, supplies and food to get to the fire victims. Our vendors donated thousands of dollars worth of products in support.
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020
# of Full Time Staff (27+ hours/week)
71%
OF STAFF participate in the employee retirement plan
160 75%
OF STAFF earn livable wages
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020
93%
OF STAFF eligible for healthcare
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Growing the CO-OP ECONOMY
For the last decade, the Ashland Food Co-op’s growth has been approaching a plateau. Time and again we have risen to the challenge of using our space in the most efficient ways possible. We are proud to be a part of a strong cooperative movement in the Rogue Valley, and we are grateful for all of our Co-op Owners and shoppers.
Annual Sales • 8 Year Snapshot in millions
47%
$28.6
$28.8
2013
2014
$30.0
$31.3
2015
2016
$29.9
$29.4
$30.0
$30.9
2017
2018
2019
2020
of total store sales come from organic products
Including more than:
$14.4M
of USDA organic products PAGE 19
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020
To our owners, board, staff and partners – thank you for making it a great year. We are indeed
stronger together!
237 N. First Street Ashland, OR 97502 (541) 482-2237 • www.ashlandfood.coop