Associate Involvement and Education
Green Teams are being established at all UNFI facilities across the nation, including Albert’s Organics, Natural Retail Group, Hershey Import Company, and UNFI Specialty Distribution Services. Green Teams are comprised of associate volunteers who have an interest in green initiatives and improving company sustainability. They serve as watchful eyes for opportunities for improvement, hands to implement projects, spokespeople to act as liaisons between all associates and corporate initiatives, and ears to listen to each associate’s suggestions.
UNFI Green Teams research and implement creative ways to make each facility’s operations greener through energy and resource conservation, waste reduction, recycling, education and local action. For example:
- The Chesterfield New Hampshire Green Team coordinates the recycling of plastic bags and yogurt containers.
- UNFI Green Teams across the country help care for the local environment. The Iowa City Green Team does a twice-yearly clean-up of nearby Snyder Creek; the Sarasota Florida team helps with beach clean up, the Ridgefield Washington team planted 233 trees around Wilkes Creek in Portland Oregon.
- UNFI Green Teams across the country raise funds for American Forests, a non-profit organization which helps plant trees in our nation’s disturbed eco-systems. As of January 2009, the Green Teams have funded over 3500 trees.
- Green Teams present "Lunch and Learn" seminars to associates featuring basic suggestions for and gentle encouragement of incorporating sustainability into daily activities.
- Local Green Teams organize annual events of environmentally significant occasions such as Earth Day and Arbor Day
Easy Being Green
Easy Being Green is UNFI's newsletter for associates focusing on sustainable practices, green living and Green Team activities. the newsletters include seasonal tips, photos and stories about team projects.