Whole Foods Honored for Its Green Commitment
Wellington, FL
By Jordan Okumura
04.24.13
Whole Foods Market in Wellington has been honored with the 2013 Environmental Business of the Year by Florida Atlantic University’s Pine Jog Environmental Education Center. The award was presented to Whole Foods Market team members as part of Florida Atlantic University’s Green Gala, according to a press release.
The company is continues to be a leader in green initiatives with a goal of zero waste by 2015. Whole Foods has also been ranked No.3 by the EPA on the quarterly 100 percent Green Power Users list and one of only three retailers in the top 10. The retailers was also ranked No. 2 on the EPA’s Top 20 Retail list, No. 4 on its National Top 50 list, and No. 4 on its Fortune 500 Partners list.
Whole Foods Market Wellington is considered among the “next generation of environmental leaders” by the center for its commitment to green initiatives.
Whole Foods Market Wellington has been supporting environmental efforts in its 52,000 square-foot facility as well as in the community, since opening in 2008. The store was built utilizing eco-friendly materials that include recycled cork, plastic bottle sky lights, coconut shells tiles in the café, along with many other energy saving materials. The store is also involved with as many local environmental organizations including the Sierra Club, Resource Depot, Palm Beach Soil and Water Conservation District’s Envirothon Competition and Wellington Elementary School and High School Ecology Clubs.
The Wellington location has a full-time team member dedicated to educating the community, customers and team members about Green Mission initiatives. In support of Clean Air Month this May, the Florida Region of Whole Foods Market will participate in the Clean Air Challenge. The challenge encourages team members to carpool, take city transit, ride their bicycle or walk to work in an effort to reduce our impact on the environment.
As part of Whole Foods Market’s goal of Zero-Waste by the year 2015 the company engages in efforts such as beach and waterway clean ups several times a year, composting in four stores with a goal of seven by the end of May, region-wide phone recycling program. Whole Foods also provides a drop off for our customers who can’t recycle No. 5 plastic through our Gimme 5 program.
