2021
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 Staff and Economic Data ......................................................................................17 2021 Metrics ............................................................................................................19
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ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2021
STRONGER TOGETHER Dedicated to the staff that make us stronger together. In 2021, the Co-op’s incredible staff continued to provide a welcoming and safe environment in the second year of a pandemic. With their help, the Co-op is taking clear strides towards our 2030 sustainability goals. This year, the Co-op was honored to partner with True South Solar, Oregon Department of Energy, and Tomas Endicott to install the largest single solar array in Southern Oregon, a 197 kW virtual net metering system. We are especially thankful for the place where this array lives - on the warehouse roof of Oak Street Tank and Steel. This landmark installation could not have been accomplished without their partnership and collaboration. Back behind the scenes at the Co-op store, the Energy team completed our third year in Energy Trust of Oregon's Strategic Energy Management program. The countdown to 2030 and achieving true carbon neutrality has begun! As always, 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 2021
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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 2021
EDI Committee In 2021, the Ashland Food Co-op continued its work in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion by working internally to develop and strengthen our EDI Committee. This committee was formed in November 2020. By January of 2021, a team of managers, staff, board members, and AFCEA representative (the co-op's labor organization) were meeting regularly. Co-op staff created a safe space together called the Affinity Group to address concerns and communicate with the EDI committee. In March 2021, the AFC Board and management team participated in a Cultural Agility 201 training. The EDI committee charter and members were officially presented to Co-op staff in September.
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2021
Today, this committee is working to receive employee feedback in a safe, confidential, anonymous way so that the EDI team can be responsive and supportive to what is currently happening at AFC. We acknowledge that communication and responsiveness towards employees needed improvement, and we have put in time and work towards this end. We are committed to anti-racism work, and creating a safe and inclusive working environment for all employees.
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RENEWABLE
Energy
AFC is proud to announce the installation of a 197kW solar array on the Oak Street Tank and Steel warehouse. This project is the result of a collaborative partnership with Oak Street Tank and Steel, True South Solar, Oregon Department of Energy, and project developer, Tomas Endicott. This installation is the largest single array in Southern Oregon! The array was turned on in April 2021 in celebration of Earth Day. This virtual net metering array produced over 215,000 kW in 2021, which provided approximately 29% of our annual energy use. We are looking for another big rooftop to launch our second array through Ashland’s virtual net metering program!
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Alongside our 12 kW solar array on our historic barn, and a 39 kW array on our store roof, our total solar generation is over 248 kW. For the rest of our electricity, we purchase renewable energy certificates, as well as carbon offsets and water restoration certificates through Bonneville Environmental Foundation. We are recognized as an EPA Green Power Partner. Through our Greenhouse Gas Emissions calculations, we are offsetting 100% of our Scope 1 and market-based Scope 2 emissions. 1,675 Water Restoration Credits
700 Renewable Energy Certificates
150 Carbon Offsets 38% of electricity produced from local solar in 2021
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2021
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
Energy savings REDUCED NATURAL GAS USE BY 2.6% IN 2019
With our incentive funding, our Energy Team decided to invest in zero waste Terracycle boxes for plastic grocery and shopping bags. We continue to upcycle corks through ReCork using SEM funds. These upcycling options are available in front of the store entrance.
REDUCED 9.6% IN 2021!
2019 NATURAL GAS USE 2
.6%
REDUCTIO
N!
2020 NATURAL GAS USE 5
.7%
REDUCTIO
N!
2021 NATURAL GAS USE
9.6%
REDUCTIO
N!
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2021
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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
Elimina single use cte your 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. Since starting the program, these reusable containers have been exchanged over 1,500 times by all participating restaurants!
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2021
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 2021, 138 of our customers chose to join the program to reduce their carbon footprint with Bicycle Benefits.
Staff chose the
Green Way to Work
1,791
times in 2021!
Use Rogue To Go at:
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2021
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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.
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 PAGE 9
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2021
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 2021, over 100,000 gallons of food scraps were given to feed animals.
100,000 gallons
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2021
pre-consumer food scraps diverted to farm animals PAGE 10
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 peaches to soap and herbal tinctures. You can find local croissants, donuts, breads, and more in our Bakery department. Over 24% of all Bakery items are made locally. In 2021, we sold products from 160 local vendors. We added blue shelf tags on our aisles to highlight local products - so now they can be easily found on every aisle.
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Total Sales from local products
$2,718,854 7% of total sales Local Vendors
160 Charitable Giving
>$36,831
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2021
We source our local goods from within 100 miles of the store.
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2021
100 Miles
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COMMUNITY
Leadership At the Co-op, we are all about community. These past two years have shown us what community really means.
The AFC Board of Directors graciously approved a “Hero Pay” increase of $2 per hour for all employees throughout 2021.
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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ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2021
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. In 2021, our customers raised over $71,159 from register donations.
BA CK
EA
IN
G
Y
GIV
RS
CHANGE FOR GOOD 2021 RECIPIENTS
F O R OV E R
25
Rogue Valley Mentoring AHAA North Mountain Nature Center Pollinator Project RV RV Farm to School Our Family Farms Southern Oregon Land Conservancy KS Wild Center for Nonprofit Legal Services AFC Gives Community Fund SO Climate Action Now Community Works
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2021
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OUR HOMEGROWN
Values
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
$23.5 M Sales from Other Shoppers
$7.2 M
Total Patronage Dividend
$508,596
Average Patronage Dividend by Owner
$74.55
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ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2021
2021 MEMBERS Members Joined in 2021
372
Total Members
12,461 We would like to extend a thank you to more than 7,963 owners who shopped with us last year. Did you know?
77% of sales come from owners
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2021
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CO-OP Staff
159
# of Full Time Staff (27+ hours/week)
71%
OF STAFF participate in the employee retirement plan
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85%
OF STAFF earn livable wages
93%
OF STAFF eligible for healthcare
ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2021
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
51%
$28.8
$30.0
$31.3
2015
2016
in millions
$29.9
$29.4
$30.0
$30.9
$30.7
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
of total store sales come from organic products
2014
Including more than:
$13.6M
of USDA organic products ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2021
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2021
Metrics
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ASHLAND FOOD CO-OP | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2021
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
