Whole Foods Market is committed to providing customers with healthy and organic food options. Now, Whole Foods is adding sustainability to its mission by adding solar panels to 100 store locations. Take a look at what Whole Foods wants to accomplish with this initiative and what other businesses can learn from it.
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Situation: Whole Foods’ Environmental Stewardship Mission
Whole Foods is passionate about healthy food that is organic and ethically sourced. Since the company’s first store opened in 1980, its mission has focused on sourcing and selling these types of food. However, the company also puts the planet before profits. Eco-friendly initiatives are at the core of Whole Foods’ values.
All Whole Foods stores do things a little differently, but each location constantly looks for ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle. For instance, many stores implement composting, rainwater collection systems, extensive recycling programs, minimal product packaging, and alternative energy sources.
Whole Foods recently announced a deal with SolarCity to install solar panels on up to 100 store locations. This is yet another green initiative that supports Whole Foods’ environmental stewardship mission. Twenty-five stores already use some form of solar power.
Approach: SolarCity Will Provide Whole Foods With Solar Power Services
In partnership with SolarCity and other alternative energy companies, Whole Foods will install rooftop solar panels at up to 100 store locations and distribution centers across the United States. Whole Foods has not disclosed the specific locations that will receive solar panels in 2016. SolarCity said in a statement it will provide solar power services to stores in New York and New Jersey.
SolarCity, one of the top solar power providers in the United States, aims to help Whole Foods offset the need for power from the traditional power grid. Solar City plans to customize panel designs for each Whole Foods store based on the roof incline and the amount of direct sunlight each store receives. Ultimately, these solar panels will save Whole Foods money and help advance the company’s eco-friendly initiative.
Impact and Advantage
Implementing solar panels will help Whole Foods reduce its environmental impact in yet another way. Whole Foods’ environmentally friendly approach is something customers appreciate and that the company strives to achieve. Whole Foods’ products often cost more than products at traditional grocery stores, but many customers don’t mind paying a little extra for their food when they know it’s organic and comes from a company that cares about the planet.
At one point, some analysts thought Whole Foods was destined to go out of business because of higher product costs, but the company has proven that customers think about the greater cost of food when shopping for products. When Whole Foods takes a new step to improve the environment, customers show their support.
Whole Foods is a smart example of a business that cares about the environment. Other businesses shouldn’t be afraid to implement green practices just because of the initial costs, since Whole Foods has demonstrated that many customers go out of their way to support businesses with an environmentally friendly mission. [/show_to]
