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Spotlight

Working towards zero food waste

After meeting our first food waste reduction goal six years ahead of schedule, 100% of our stores are now diverting potentially wasted food to best and highest use.

Zero Food Waste Initiative

One big focus for Save-On-Foods is Food Waste. In 2017, we launched a formal effort to reduce Food Waste and measure our results — with a goal to cut food waste in half by 2025.

We achieved that goal in June 2018 and set a new target of zero food waste to landfill by 2022. As of June 2022, 100% of our stores have adopted the best practices that will help us achieve this goal and we are over 90% of the way there. In order to reach this, we are focused on eliminating all possible aspects of waste being sent to landfill.

Our company has adopted three approaches to our food recovery efforts:

  • Prevent surplus and potentially wasted food
  • Respond to food waste reduction performance
  • Divert to best and highest use

To make this possible, Save-On-Foods is collaborating with BC-based organizations FoodMesh and Loop Resource Program — which divert unsellable food to the local food bank and area farms. Food that previously would have been waste first goes to local food kitchens and food banks. Then, if it’s not suitable for human consumption, it is donated to local farms to be used as animal feed.

  • 7.2%decrease in total annual food waste tonnage since 2016, despite the addition of 28 new stores!
  • 48Mmeals provided through the diversion of edible food waste from our stores since 2016. Additionally, these donations have helped support 3,000 charities, food banks and farms!
  • 19%in greenhouse gas emissions reductions since 2016 baselines, despite adding 30 new stores!

Further Reading:

Our Mission

A commitment to conservation

Save-On-Foods continues to uphold our commitments to address our environmental impacts, while seeking new opportunities to expand how our actions can positively impact and improve the natural environments we depend on. Our customers raise important questions and bring forward local, provincial, national and even global opportunities for our company to make a difference. We listen and take action to do our part to help preserve our planet.

  • Zero Waste

    Zero Waste

    We are dramatically reducing our waste sent to landfill by diverting unused organic resources, plastics and cardboard to partners and organizations who are able to recycle, re-use, or repurpose our extra resources. By enabling this circular economy, we are looking to make zero-waste grocery a possibility for our communities while creating unique value and impacts along the way.

  • Climate Change

    Climate Change

    We will contribute to combating climate change by reducing carbon emissions from our buildings, supply chains and vehicle fleets while exploring opportunities to assist with environmental preservation, reforestation and carbon offsetting efforts in Canada.

48M

Since 2016, Save-On-Foods has partnered with local charities to create 48 million healthy meals for those in need

Vitacore and Save-On-Foods partner to recycle reusable bags

Reusable shopping bags have replaced single-use ones in a step towards a more sustainable Canada. Save-On-Foods locations now offer Planet Impact bins in-store to leave reusable bags to be responsibly recycled into new products, even if they’re not from our store!

Download Press Release

Call2Recycle Canada and Save-On-Foods Partner to Increase Battery Recycling

Call2Recycle Canada Inc., is announcing a new partnership with Save-On-Foods. This partnership will give Save-On-Foods customers an opportunity to have a real impact on the environment by returning end-of-life batteries to their local store.

Download Press Release

4.4 million Kgs

of batteries recycled by Call2Recycle in 2022, with strong support from Save-On-Foods, leading us to be awarded the Leader in Sustainability Award!

Circular Food Innovation Lab

Addressing food waste challenges in Vancouver

Save-On-Foods, in partnership with the City of Vancouver, Vancouver Economic Commission, and Emily Carr University were joined by many other local stakeholders along the food and agriculture value chain to explore ways to collectively address food waste to improve access, cost, and management of our most precious resource.

Learn more

34stores

powered a year at no annual cost.

Zero Waste

The leading edge of waste reduction for 30+ years

For over three decades, we have been on the leading edge of waste reduction, actively partnering with environmental organizations across the country. We regularly pilot and implement better solutions that work for business, customers and the planet. We are committed to doing our part to take responsibility for what we generate.

Goals

  • 1Eliminate food waste by 2023
  • 2Contribute to the circular economy in collaboration with our partners, innovators, and local and provincial leadership
  • 3Work with local and provincial organizations to build a stronger response system as climate change increasingly impacts communities across the country, while continuing to lower the carbon footprint of our operations.

How we’re bringing our commitments to life

  • Ocean Wise and Save-On-Foods team-up to help households take action against plastic pollution

    Every year we celebrate Plastic Free July! Whether you’re a plastic-free pro or just starting on the journey to reduce your use of unnecessary plastic, join Ocean Wise in taking the next (or first!) step to radically reduce your plastic use.

  • A leader in energy conservation

    Save-On-Foods has been a Power Smart Partner with BC Hydro since 2002, seeking out opportunities for energy savings throughout our operations.

  • Minimizing plastics

    We are dedicated to reducing use and minimizing waste of plastics in our stores.