Reducing Waste Year-Round at Seward Co-op

April 17, 2023

Earth Day is April 22, a time to get outside, help clean a local park, reduce plastic use, and more. So how will Seward Co-op commemorate Earth Day this year? In large part, by maintaining our commitment to positive environmental impacts through year-round sustainable, waste-reducing measures. Our Ends Statement dictates how we care for our community and our environment, and we employ a number of environmentally conscious practices in striving to reach those Ends every day. Here are some things you’ll find in stores which help foster a community that produces less waste.

A compostable bag hangs down in front of a produce fridge where two people are shopping

Compostable and Paper Bags

In the Produce department, you’ll notice we have green compostable bags as well as paper bags to gather fresh apples, carrots, mushrooms, and more. Compostable bags can be discarded with other organics, as can paper bags with food waste on them. Clean paper bags can be recycled. Paper bags can also be found around our Bulk department for all of your dry good needs.

Reusable Hot Bar Containers

Last fall, we launched our reusable hot bar containers, which can be found at the Delis in both the Franklin and Friendship stores. These green containers bearing the Seward Co-op logo are durable, recyclable, and able to be used up to hundreds of times, saving with each use the wealth of resources that go into producing single-use compostable containers. Next time you visit the Deli Hot Bar, try a reusable container for a five-dollar deposit. When you’re finished with it, return the washed container to Customer Service for a wooden token that can be exchanged at the cash register for the return of your deposit in the form of a credit. We’ll then thoroughly sanitize the container for future use. The most sustainable packaging is the multiuse kind, and we’re excited to offer this simple, safe, and sanitary option that eliminates waste.

Two people shopping in the Bulk aisle

Bulk Items

One of the best ways to cut down on packaging waste is to shop bulk items, and Seward Co-op has a substantial variety available for purchase throughout the store. Need just a bit of spinach for a salad you’re making? Take what you need from the bulk bins in Produce. Eggs, Brussels sprouts, celery, carrots, and more can also be bought in bulk. Find bulk items in Wellness, too, such as liquid and bar soaps, oils, bath salts, and more. Our dedicated Bulk aisle includes staples like flour and sugar but also items like vinegar, pasta, spices, and more. Shoppers are welcome to bring in their own clean containers for these items, further reducing single-use packaging waste.

For more ways Seward Co-op can help you maximize your positive environmental impacts, read our blog from last year’s Earth Day.