It’s no secret the effects that food waste have on our environment and how food banks like Inter-Faith Food Shuttle play a role by directing perfectly good food away from landfills. But are there more opportunities we have to impact the triple bottom line? This trifecta of what Harvard Business School considers the ultimate measure of an organization’s success—the social, economic, and environmental impacts. To that end, we must recognize the full long-term significance of all three and seek how to incorporate environmentally-friendly practices across our many programs.
“We are always exploring new options and new technologies,” explains Melvin Acosta, the Food Shuttle’s Vice President of Operations and Logistics. “We’re always re-imagining how we operate and being intentional in how we do things to increase our effectiveness—even if we must sacrifice a little efficiency.”
By examining the many opportunities within the Food Shuttle to “go green”, we introduced compostable plastic bags into the packing process for Grocery Bags for Seniors and individual quick-frozen meals. These bags are larger than the ones formerly used and provide a sturdy alternative for the recipients. While the compostable bags cost the Food Shuttle more than the regular plastic bags, with using 3,500 bags each month, switching to an eco-friendlier product makes a significant difference environmentally.
The Food Shuttle has also made the switch to LED lighting at all our office, agriculture, and warehouse sites In Raleigh and Durham. LED lights are up to 80% more efficient than traditional lighting such as fluorescent and incandescent lights. Less energy use reduces the demand from power plants and decreases greenhouse gas emissions.
While composting has been used at all agricultural sites at the Food Shuttle for many years, in late 2021, Wake County Waste Production provided funding to construct a brand-new large composting shed at the Food Shuttle Farm. This facility, which was built by volunteers, provides space to recycle all of the excess plant material that results from workings of the 14-acre Farm into a valuable fertilizer that can enrich the soil and plants for future seasons.
It’s through making strides—both big and small—that we reduce our carbon footprint, working toward ensuring a greener planet for generations to come.