Cook County Co-op staffers were delighted to learn that the co-op had earned the “Sustainability Star” award from the National Co-op Grocers for their energy efficient building and practices.
The Cook County Whole Foods Co-op has earned the “Sustainability Star” from National Co-op Grocers for achieving the lowest energy use per square foot on record among Central Corridor co-ops.
The Central Corridor includes 58 co-ops—48 members and 10 associate co-ops, operating in 82 locations in 13 states, from North Dakota to Eastern Texas.
The energy use per square foot is averaged over a year. Cook County Whole Foods Co-op Marketing and Education Representative Reed Schmidt explained that the co-op earned the award because of efforts such as reclaiming waste refrigeration heat for hot water; faithfully tracking recycling and food scrap diversion; and sales of local goods. All of these sustainability practices are reviewed by the co-op board annually.
Schmidt added that the award is part of the National Co-op Grocers new sustainability initiative
“Co+efficient,” a program that works to improve co-ops’ social, environmental and local economic impacts.
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