Whole Foods donated close to 30 million meals to food rescue and redistribution programs in 2021 and raised millions of dollars for hundreds of communities across 12 countries through their “Sourced for Good Program,” according to the company’s first Social Impact Update.
Whole Foods currently has key initiatives focusing on a commitment to their team members, thoughtful sourcing of products, a reduction of their environmental footprint, and strengthening their communities:
Minimizing food waste and serving communities in need
Whole Foods launched Nourishing Our Neighborhoods in September 2020 and has donated 31 refrigerated vans to community-based food rescue and redistribution programs. Through donations, Whole Foods supported 1,125 unique food rescue and redistribution programs in 2021.
Promoting alternative energy and reduce environmental impact
Whole Foods has more than 20 Leed-certified stores, over 70 stores with solar roofs, more than 200 stores with electric vehicle charging stations, and more than 100 stores that now use next generation, low-GWP refrigerants.
Helping customers identify products that support workers, communities, and the environment
Whole Foods launched its Sourced for Good program in April 2021, which is dedicated to helping customers easily identify products that support these key areas. The Sourced for Good seal is on more than 100 products across the store.
Sourcing local and supporting local suppliers
The Local Producer Loan Program, which was founded in 2006, provides loans to small scale, local, and emerging producers throughout the U.S. and Canada to help grow their businesses. Since its founding, the program has provided more than 360 loans, representing approximately $26 million in capital for recipients.
Supporting the regenerative agriculture
The grocery store chain is reviewing labels and requiring a third-party certification or substantive information about soil health, and also supporting several independent organizations that are working to develop additional certifications that will help to grow the landscape for regenerative agriculture and provide more options to suppliers.
