Establishing Environmental Goals for Our Co-op
added 01/03/12
by Emily Neuman, Sustainability Coordinator
The Co-op has made good progress toward its environmental goals in 2011, and you can be proud that we are well on our way to meeting our 2012 environmental goals.
Because of these efforts, our Co-op has been playing a key role in making this region a sustainability leader. During 2012, the Co-op will be celebrating its substantial environmental progress of the last five years and looking ahead to what is possible in the next five-to-ten-year period. We hope that many members will become engaged in the celebration and the visioning.
We need to know what you, the members, would like your co-op to be doing for the environment. In other communities, cooperatives are conserving key farmland, moving toward more organic food sales, and buying 100 percent green electricity. All of these things are possible for our community, too, but we need to know that our membership stands firmly behind whatever we undertake, as some of these endeavors would require financial investment and risk.
As a first step, we hope that you will attend this year’s Annual Meeting and Expo on March 31st. The Expo will be all about environmental sustainability activities in the Upper Valley. By attending, you will discover that all kinds of exciting work is being done, whether your interest is bikes, buildings, food, or fuels. We are planning engaging activities for all ages, including opportunities to weigh in on how Upper Valley organizations should direct their environmental efforts over the next ten years. You are sure to enjoy yourself, as we’ll have music, food, and art on hand to inspire you. Our hope is that you will leave the event committed to doing at least one more good thing for our local environment than you already do. And, you’ll leave with the energy and knowledge to make it happen.
Co-op Board of Directors End No. 6:
Because of the Hanover Co-op, there will be a thriving business organization that protects and restores the environment.
2008-2012 Sustainability Department Vision
The Co-op is a thriving business organization that protects and restores the environment. Co-op staff understand the environmental impacts of the company’s operations. Co-op shoppers are well-informed about the environmental impacts of their food choices. Through its operations, the Co-op supports a zero waste food system powered by clean, renewable energy. Values and norms at the Co-op support the realization of this vision.
2012 Goals
- Reduce total waste generation and achieve Zero Waste at all locations (defined as 90 percent diversion of waste from landfill).
- Cap energy consumption and reduce energy-related greenhouse gas emissions by ten percent.
- Cultivate a staff culture that helps the Co-op achieve its environmental goals.
- Ensure that Co-op shoppers are well-informed about the environmental impacts of their food choices.
Sustainable Expo
Interested in sustainability? Attend the Co-op Annual Meeting and Expo on March 31, 2012. The event will spotlight environmental sustainability activities in the Upper Valley and will feature music, food, art, and more. See you there!
