several years ago my sister sent an email out to the whole family because
email out to the whole family because
email out to the whole family because she was particularly outraged about the
she was particularly outraged about the
she was particularly outraged about the destruction of the rainforests in
destruction of the rainforests in
destruction of the rainforests in Indonesia the article was about the
Indonesia the article was about the
Indonesia the article was about the orangutan habitat and how they were
orangutan habitat and how they were
orangutan habitat and how they were being displaced and killed to make room
being displaced and killed to make room
being displaced and killed to make room for palm oil production palm oils and
for palm oil production palm oils and
for palm oil production palm oils and products such as shampoos soaps cleaners
products such as shampoos soaps cleaners
products such as shampoos soaps cleaners and food so she asked us all in the
and food so she asked us all in the
and food so she asked us all in the family to stop using palm oil products
family to stop using palm oil products
family to stop using palm oil products and then she asked us to get our
and then she asked us to get our
and then she asked us to get our neighbors and people on our street to
neighbors and people on our street to
neighbors and people on our street to stop using palm oil products and I
stop using palm oil products and I
stop using palm oil products and I thought whoa that could take a lot of
thought whoa that could take a lot of
thought whoa that could take a lot of time there’s a lot of people on our
time there’s a lot of people on our
time there’s a lot of people on our street why can’t we just get the darn
street why can’t we just get the darn
street why can’t we just get the darn grocery store to stop selling palm oil
grocery store to stop selling palm oil
grocery store to stop selling palm oil products and we’ll have all the streets
products and we’ll have all the streets
products and we’ll have all the streets covered well the results of that are
covered well the results of that are
covered well the results of that are still pending but it got me to think on
still pending but it got me to think on
still pending but it got me to think on a more macro level about impact and
a more macro level about impact and
a more macro level about impact and opportunity and I began to wonder is
opportunity and I began to wonder is
opportunity and I began to wonder is there a business sector out there that
there a business sector out there that
there a business sector out there that has a greater opportunity to be more
has a greater opportunity to be more
has a greater opportunity to be more sustainable than the grocery store think
sustainable than the grocery store think
sustainable than the grocery store think about all the impact and energy
about all the impact and energy
about all the impact and energy associated with producing manufacturing
associated with producing manufacturing
associated with producing manufacturing and transporting tens of thousands of
and transporting tens of thousands of
and transporting tens of thousands of products around the world to the 38,000
products around the world to the 38,000
products around the world to the 38,000 grocery stores in America its immense
grocery stores in America its immense
grocery stores in America its immense and the amount of energy they use at the
and the amount of energy they use at the
and the amount of energy they use at the grocery store is immense decade after
grocery store is immense decade after
grocery store is immense decade after decade after decade grocery stores use
decade after decade grocery stores use
decade after decade grocery stores use more energy per square foot than any
more energy per square foot than any
more energy per square foot than any other business type and the flow of
other business type and the flow of
other business type and the flow of materials in the back all the cardboard
materials in the back all the cardboard
materials in the back all the cardboard all the packaging all the plastic all
all the packaging all the plastic all
all the packaging all the plastic all the food and all the food waste so I
the food and all the food waste so I
the food and all the food waste so I would argue that there is no industry
would argue that there is no industry
would argue that there is no industry sector or business sector that has a
sector or business sector that has a
sector or business sector that has a greater opportunity to be more
greater opportunity to be more
greater opportunity to be more sustainable than the grocery store but I
sustainable than the grocery store but I
sustainable than the grocery store but I would also add there is no business
would also add there is no business
would also add there is no business sector out there that has the
sector out there that has the
sector out there that has the opportunity to communicate and
opportunity to communicate and
opportunity to communicate and demonstrate the importance of
demonstrate the importance of
demonstrate the importance of sustainability than the grocery sector
sustainability than the grocery sector
sustainability than the grocery sector and I say that because I don’t really
and I say that because I don’t really
and I say that because I don’t really see them doing that it almost seems like
see them doing that it almost seems like
see them doing that it almost seems like the grocery store is reluctant to lead
the grocery store is reluctant to lead
the grocery store is reluctant to lead us toward
us toward
us toward more sustainable future and that’s
more sustainable future and that’s
more sustainable future and that’s unfortunate and odd it’s unfortunate
unfortunate and odd it’s unfortunate
unfortunate and odd it’s unfortunate because no other business sector gets us
because no other business sector gets us
because no other business sector gets us in the door with as much frequency as
in the door with as much frequency as
in the door with as much frequency as the grocery stores do we go to the
the grocery stores do we go to the
the grocery stores do we go to the grocery stores between 1.8 and 2.2 times
grocery stores between 1.8 and 2.2 times
grocery stores between 1.8 and 2.2 times per week that’s twice per week and it
per week that’s twice per week and it
per week that’s twice per week and it seems like that they’re not seizing this
seems like that they’re not seizing this
seems like that they’re not seizing this opportunity to lead in helping us have a
opportunity to lead in helping us have a
opportunity to lead in helping us have a more sustainable future and it’s odd
more sustainable future and it’s odd
more sustainable future and it’s odd because the market research says that
because the market research says that
because the market research says that they have a lot to benefit if they do so
they have a lot to benefit if they do so
they have a lot to benefit if they do so there’s a growing interest in
there’s a growing interest in
there’s a growing interest in sustainable products there’s a growing
sustainable products there’s a growing
sustainable products there’s a growing interest in going to sustainable
interest in going to sustainable
interest in going to sustainable businesses 77% of Americans are
businesses 77% of Americans are
businesses 77% of Americans are interested in the environmental
interested in the environmental
interested in the environmental attributes of the products that they’re
attributes of the products that they’re
attributes of the products that they’re shopping for that’s up from 71 percent
shopping for that’s up from 71 percent
shopping for that’s up from 71 percent from two years before that in 66 and 63
from two years before that in 66 and 63
from two years before that in 66 and 63 and 5755 it has been on a steady and
and 5755 it has been on a steady and
and 5755 it has been on a steady and significant incline for two decades yet
significant incline for two decades yet
significant incline for two decades yet the grocery sector is slow to react to
the grocery sector is slow to react to
the grocery sector is slow to react to that it’s almost as if they are stuck in
that it’s almost as if they are stuck in
that it’s almost as if they are stuck in time if our planet is going to be more
time if our planet is going to be more
time if our planet is going to be more sustainable in the future or even
sustainable in the future or even
sustainable in the future or even somewhat measurably
somewhat measurably
somewhat measurably more sustainable in the future grocery
more sustainable in the future grocery
more sustainable in the future grocery stores have to stop looking and
stores have to stop looking and
stores have to stop looking and operating like it’s 1960 they still
operating like it’s 1960 they still
operating like it’s 1960 they still generate a lot of waste out the back
generate a lot of waste out the back
generate a lot of waste out the back they’re still challenged with trying to
they’re still challenged with trying to
they’re still challenged with trying to figure out how to use energy efficiently
figure out how to use energy efficiently
figure out how to use energy efficiently and it’s the same source of products on
and it’s the same source of products on
and it’s the same source of products on the shelves decade after decade after
the shelves decade after decade after
the shelves decade after decade after decade why is that
decade why is that
decade why is that well grocery stores exist on
well grocery stores exist on
well grocery stores exist on single-digit profit margins and by
single-digit profit margins and by
single-digit profit margins and by single-digit I don’t mean like seven
single-digit I don’t mean like seven
single-digit I don’t mean like seven eight and nine percent I mean one and
eight and nine percent I mean one and
eight and nine percent I mean one and maybe two after selling eighteen million
maybe two after selling eighteen million
maybe two after selling eighteen million dollars worth of product in a year a
dollars worth of product in a year a
dollars worth of product in a year a grocery store might have 300 thousand
grocery store might have 300 thousand
grocery store might have 300 thousand dollars left over as profit that is a
dollars left over as profit that is a
dollars left over as profit that is a 1.7 percent profit margin that’s the
1.7 percent profit margin that’s the
1.7 percent profit margin that’s the average profit margin for the industry
average profit margin for the industry
average profit margin for the industry in America that is very slim it doesn’t
in America that is very slim it doesn’t
in America that is very slim it doesn’t give them a lot of leeway to think about
give them a lot of leeway to think about
give them a lot of leeway to think about innovation being innovative or being
innovation being innovative or being
innovation being innovative or being creative or thinking about a sustainable
creative or thinking about a sustainable
creative or thinking about a sustainable future but we need to encourage them to
future but we need to encourage them to
future but we need to encourage them to do that otherwise it is going to keep
do that otherwise it is going to keep
do that otherwise it is going to keep looking decade and decade and
looking decade and decade and
looking decade and decade and like it like it always has been I have
like it like it always has been I have
like it like it always has been I have found that helping them understand the
found that helping them understand the
found that helping them understand the economics of efficiency is a good
economics of efficiency is a good
economics of efficiency is a good stepping stone to getting them to
stepping stone to getting them to
stepping stone to getting them to becoming more sustainable now a grocery
becoming more sustainable now a grocery
becoming more sustainable now a grocery store sells eighteen million dollars
store sells eighteen million dollars
store sells eighteen million dollars worth of product in a year and their
worth of product in a year and their
worth of product in a year and their profits about three hundred thousand but
profits about three hundred thousand but
profits about three hundred thousand but those operating costs are almost right
those operating costs are almost right
those operating costs are almost right under where their revenue line is
under where their revenue line is
under where their revenue line is anytime that they can save some money
anytime that they can save some money
anytime that they can save some money particularly with being more efficient
particularly with being more efficient
particularly with being more efficient it’s going to translate over to the
it’s going to translate over to the
it’s going to translate over to the revenue side so for every dollar in the
revenue side so for every dollar in the
revenue side so for every dollar in the electrical energy that they can save and
electrical energy that they can save and
electrical energy that they can save and refrigeration is mostly electrical it
refrigeration is mostly electrical it
refrigeration is mostly electrical it doesn’t translate to $1 on the revenue
doesn’t translate to $1 on the revenue
doesn’t translate to $1 on the revenue side that $1 drop in operating costs is
side that $1 drop in operating costs is
side that $1 drop in operating costs is equivalent to a chunk of $18 on the
equivalent to a chunk of $18 on the
equivalent to a chunk of $18 on the revenue side but they don’t know that so
revenue side but they don’t know that so
revenue side but they don’t know that so what does that look like at a grocery
what does that look like at a grocery
what does that look like at a grocery store well my kids like to go to the
store well my kids like to go to the
store well my kids like to go to the grocery store and tell me how much air
grocery store and tell me how much air
grocery store and tell me how much air curtain space is blocked every time with
curtain space is blocked every time with
curtain space is blocked every time with every time we’re there to go shopping I
every time we’re there to go shopping I
every time we’re there to go shopping I have a 10 and 11 year old and they’ll
have a 10 and 11 year old and they’ll
have a 10 and 11 year old and they’ll typically come up and say hey Dad
typically come up and say hey Dad
typically come up and say hey Dad there’s 20 feet of blocked air curtain
there’s 20 feet of blocked air curtain
there’s 20 feet of blocked air curtain space at the grocery store today and
space at the grocery store today and
space at the grocery store today and what they meet what what that means is
what they meet what what that means is
what they meet what what that means is that those open refrigeration cases that
that those open refrigeration cases that
that those open refrigeration cases that are displaying products would be more
are displaying products would be more
are displaying products would be more efficient if they had doors on them but
efficient if they had doors on them but
efficient if they had doors on them but the open ones they could operate more
the open ones they could operate more
the open ones they could operate more efficiently by not blocking the vent at
efficiently by not blocking the vent at
efficiently by not blocking the vent at the bottom so those carrots right there
the bottom so those carrots right there
the bottom so those carrots right there are blocking that vent on the bottom
are blocking that vent on the bottom
are blocking that vent on the bottom which is trying to suck that cold air
which is trying to suck that cold air
which is trying to suck that cold air back in there’s an air curtain that’s
back in there’s an air curtain that’s
back in there’s an air curtain that’s trying to decrease the amount of air
trying to decrease the amount of air
trying to decrease the amount of air exchange from the refrigerated unit in
exchange from the refrigerated unit in
exchange from the refrigerated unit in the store and when you have product
the store and when you have product
the store and when you have product jutting out or a sales tag jutting out
jutting out or a sales tag jutting out
jutting out or a sales tag jutting out over that vent on the bottom right under
over that vent on the bottom right under
over that vent on the bottom right under those carrots it’s like sticking your
those carrots it’s like sticking your
those carrots it’s like sticking your hand in a waterfall all that cold air
hand in a waterfall all that cold air
hand in a waterfall all that cold air just drops out and runs onto the floor
just drops out and runs onto the floor
just drops out and runs onto the floor and the customers are all complaining
and the customers are all complaining
and the customers are all complaining about how cold they are in the store and
about how cold they are in the store and
about how cold they are in the store and that unit is running very inefficient
that unit is running very inefficient
that unit is running very inefficient and that is a three minute fix but any
and that is a three minute fix but any
and that is a three minute fix but any grocery store you go to in America is
grocery store you go to in America is
grocery store you go to in America is going to have about 20 feet blocked and
going to have about 20 feet blocked and
going to have about 20 feet blocked and they know it my kids know it’s 20 feet
they know it my kids know it’s 20 feet
they know it my kids know it’s 20 feet because the squares on the floor are all
because the squares on the floor are all
because the squares on the floor are all 12 by 12 and so they can run around the
12 by 12 and so they can run around the
12 by 12 and so they can run around the store and count up how much blocked
store and count up how much blocked
store and count up how much blocked airspace there is and it’s $100 a year
airspace there is and it’s $100 a year
airspace there is and it’s $100 a year for every square so a 200 so a 24
for every square so a 200 so a 24
for every square so a 200 so a 24 blocking space is gonna be about a
blocking space is gonna be about a
blocking space is gonna be about a $2,000 cost to that store now when they
$2,000 cost to that store now when they
$2,000 cost to that store now when they reduce if they can fix that by spending
reduce if they can fix that by spending
reduce if they can fix that by spending three minutes maybe twice a day just
three minutes maybe twice a day just
three minutes maybe twice a day just pushing that stuff back they will reduce
pushing that stuff back they will reduce
pushing that stuff back they will reduce that operating cost by $2,000 but on the
that operating cost by $2,000 but on the
that operating cost by $2,000 but on the revenue side that’s $36,000 in sales and
revenue side that’s $36,000 in sales and
revenue side that’s $36,000 in sales and a lot of these grocery stores don’t know
a lot of these grocery stores don’t know
a lot of these grocery stores don’t know that and remember they only make about
that and remember they only make about
that and remember they only make about 300,000 in profit that’s 12 percent of
300,000 in profit that’s 12 percent of
300,000 in profit that’s 12 percent of their profit and all they need to do is
their profit and all they need to do is
their profit and all they need to do is spend three minutes twice a day pushing
spend three minutes twice a day pushing
spend three minutes twice a day pushing that stuff back it would be cheaper to
that stuff back it would be cheaper to
that stuff back it would be cheaper to give those carrots away for free to a
give those carrots away for free to a
give those carrots away for free to a customer than to keep them on that vent
customer than to keep them on that vent
customer than to keep them on that vent blocking that air another example is
blocking that air another example is
blocking that air another example is seafood grocery stores love to display
seafood grocery stores love to display
seafood grocery stores love to display seafood on ice but making ice with
seafood on ice but making ice with
seafood on ice but making ice with electricity is very expensive a
electricity is very expensive a
electricity is very expensive a refrigerated seafood display will use
refrigerated seafood display will use
refrigerated seafood display will use $5,000 less energy than an iced seafood
$5,000 less energy than an iced seafood
$5,000 less energy than an iced seafood display and a refrigerated seafood
display and a refrigerated seafood
display and a refrigerated seafood display uses a hundred thousand gallons
display uses a hundred thousand gallons
display uses a hundred thousand gallons less water and you don’t need to heat
less water and you don’t need to heat
less water and you don’t need to heat the water up with propane to melt it
the water up with propane to melt it
the water up with propane to melt it down at the end of the night so my kids
down at the end of the night so my kids
down at the end of the night so my kids like to go around and see what the
like to go around and see what the
like to go around and see what the seafood displays look like at different
seafood displays look like at different
seafood displays look like at different grocery stores now that $5,000 if
grocery stores now that $5,000 if
grocery stores now that $5,000 if they’re able to move away from an ice
they’re able to move away from an ice
they’re able to move away from an ice seafood display that $5,000 is
seafood display that $5,000 is
seafood display that $5,000 is equivalent to about ninety thousand on
equivalent to about ninety thousand on
equivalent to about ninety thousand on the revenue side and if a grocery store
the revenue side and if a grocery store
the revenue side and if a grocery store chain has 200 stores five thousand times
chain has 200 stores five thousand times
chain has 200 stores five thousand times 200 that’s a million but we know that’s
200 that’s a million but we know that’s
200 that’s a million but we know that’s not a million cuz you got to multiply it
not a million cuz you got to multiply it
not a million cuz you got to multiply it by 18 is it really worth 18 million
by 18 is it really worth 18 million
by 18 is it really worth 18 million dollars to display seafood or fish heads
dollars to display seafood or fish heads
dollars to display seafood or fish heads on ice I was at a grocery store out west
on ice I was at a grocery store out west
on ice I was at a grocery store out west a couple years ago and I asked an
a couple years ago and I asked an
a couple years ago and I asked an employee what do you guys do about food
employee what do you guys do about food
employee what do you guys do about food waste and he goes I don’t know let’s go
waste and he goes I don’t know let’s go
waste and he goes I don’t know let’s go to the customer service didn’t ask so we
to the customer service didn’t ask so we
to the customer service didn’t ask so we walked 30 feet over and he said this guy
walked 30 feet over and he said this guy
walked 30 feet over and he said this guy wants to know about food waste and I
wants to know about food waste and I
wants to know about food waste and I said you compost it do you donate it
said you compost it do you donate it
said you compost it do you donate it what do you do and the woman said no no
what do you do and the woman said no no
what do you do and the woman said no no no no we can that do anything like that
no no we can that do anything like that
no no we can that do anything like that we have strictly legal liabilities that
we have strictly legal liabilities that
we have strictly legal liabilities that no it all has to go in the trash which
no it all has to go in the trash which
no it all has to go in the trash which is unfortunate because they pay by the
is unfortunate because they pay by the
is unfortunate because they pay by the pound and food is heavy and I said well
pound and food is heavy and I said well
pound and food is heavy and I said well you know you really ought to think about
you know you really ought to think about
you know you really ought to think about either composting it or donating it or
either composting it or donating it or
either composting it or donating it or doing something and rate as I was saying
doing something and rate as I was saying
doing something and rate as I was saying that the manager came up and
that the manager came up and
that the manager came up and she said what did you want to know and I
she said what did you want to know and I
she said what did you want to know and I said why was wondering about food waste
said why was wondering about food waste
said why was wondering about food waste and she said oh yeah we have a very
and she said oh yeah we have a very
and she said oh yeah we have a very strong composting program and we donate
strong composting program and we donate
strong composting program and we donate fifteen thousand pounds a week to the
fifteen thousand pounds a week to the
fifteen thousand pounds a week to the food shelter and I was like wow three
food shelter and I was like wow three
food shelter and I was like wow three different employees three different
different employees three different
different employees three different answers the opportunity to communicate
answers the opportunity to communicate
answers the opportunity to communicate and demonstrate sustainability exists
and demonstrate sustainability exists
and demonstrate sustainability exists internally there as well not just
internally there as well not just
internally there as well not just externally to its customers and finally
externally to its customers and finally
externally to its customers and finally what about the palm oil what about the
what about the palm oil what about the
what about the palm oil what about the sustainable products at your store are
sustainable products at your store are
sustainable products at your store are you able to find sustainable products at
you able to find sustainable products at
you able to find sustainable products at your store yeah you can find organic and
your store yeah you can find organic and
your store yeah you can find organic and local now that’s pretty easy but what
local now that’s pretty easy but what
local now that’s pretty easy but what about humanely raised meat what about
about humanely raised meat what about
about humanely raised meat what about Fairtrade stuff or what about a green
Fairtrade stuff or what about a green
Fairtrade stuff or what about a green certified cleaning chemical can you find
certified cleaning chemical can you find
certified cleaning chemical can you find that we’re finding more and more grocery
that we’re finding more and more grocery
that we’re finding more and more grocery stores are starting to highlight that
stores are starting to highlight that
stores are starting to highlight that but really your typical average American
but really your typical average American
but really your typical average American grocery store is hiding those products
grocery store is hiding those products
grocery store is hiding those products we’d like to see them called out in the
we’d like to see them called out in the
we’d like to see them called out in the aisles with the other products but
aisles with the other products but
aisles with the other products but called out as this is more sustainable
called out as this is more sustainable
called out as this is more sustainable particularly when you know 77% could be
particularly when you know 77% could be
particularly when you know 77% could be interested in that there is no marketing
interested in that there is no marketing
interested in that there is no marketing advantage to having them hidden and not
advantage to having them hidden and not
advantage to having them hidden and not highlighted so I asked you that because
highlighted so I asked you that because
highlighted so I asked you that because I know most of you in the audience today
I know most of you in the audience today
I know most of you in the audience today are going to be going to a grocery store
are going to be going to a grocery store
are going to be going to a grocery store sometime in the next three or four days
sometime in the next three or four days
sometime in the next three or four days and I know you’re gonna go with a list
and I know you’re gonna go with a list
and I know you’re gonna go with a list so I’m gonna give you a list and we have
so I’m gonna give you a list and we have
so I’m gonna give you a list and we have these out in the lobby area but I’m
these out in the lobby area but I’m
these out in the lobby area but I’m gonna give you a list of not of stuff to
gonna give you a list of not of stuff to
gonna give you a list of not of stuff to buy but of stuff to look for these four
buy but of stuff to look for these four
buy but of stuff to look for these four things that I just mentioned because I’d
things that I just mentioned because I’d
things that I just mentioned because I’d like to see what is at your grocery
like to see what is at your grocery
like to see what is at your grocery store and I want to give you the
store and I want to give you the
store and I want to give you the opportunity to sort of look at your
opportunity to sort of look at your
opportunity to sort of look at your grocery store and maybe even encourage
grocery store and maybe even encourage
grocery store and maybe even encourage them to be more sustainable so often we
them to be more sustainable so often we
them to be more sustainable so often we go to the grocery store and we fill our
go to the grocery store and we fill our
go to the grocery store and we fill our carriage up with the products and then
carriage up with the products and then
carriage up with the products and then put them on the conveyor belt and then
put them on the conveyor belt and then
put them on the conveyor belt and then we slightly swipe our card and we look
we slightly swipe our card and we look
we slightly swipe our card and we look up and we say okay see ya and we walk
up and we say okay see ya and we walk
up and we say okay see ya and we walk out we are not seizing the opportunity
out we are not seizing the opportunity
out we are not seizing the opportunity to help the grocery stores be more
to help the grocery stores be more
to help the grocery stores be more sustainable we are there a hundred times
sustainable we are there a hundred times
sustainable we are there a hundred times a year and we say nothing so I’m gonna
a year and we say nothing so I’m gonna
a year and we say nothing so I’m gonna give you the opportunity to say
give you the opportunity to say
give you the opportunity to say something because of these four things
something because of these four things
something because of these four things one of them you have to ask about the
one of them you have to ask about the
one of them you have to ask about the food waste
food waste
food waste I suggest asking either the cashier or a
I suggest asking either the cashier or a
I suggest asking either the cashier or a manager and you can tell them I’m
manager and you can tell them I’m
manager and you can tell them I’m interested in our grocery stores
interested in our grocery stores
interested in our grocery stores becoming more sustainable this is the
becoming more sustainable this is the
becoming more sustainable this is the most important business sector we have
most important business sector we have
most important business sector we have and it’s time for us to start
and it’s time for us to start
and it’s time for us to start manning more from our grocery stores and
manning more from our grocery stores and
manning more from our grocery stores and maybe this will help pull them out of
maybe this will help pull them out of
maybe this will help pull them out of the time warp thank you
”
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