In honor of Earth Day, this week OnFocus we’re featuring local companies that are doing great things for the environment!
Local grocer Festival Foods is proudly committed to environmental sustainability, and their company has taken a variety of steps to reduce their carbon footprint by investing in new, energy efficient technology and repurposing local trees for their newest store.
As a company, they work to stay environmentally friendly in a variety of ways, including LED lights in all refrigerated display cases, cooler and freezer boxes and prep areas, which results in 70% less electricity used. They also have hundreds of cooler and freezer cases that have doors, which are 80 percent more efficient than open-air cases. Motion Sensors on all cooler doors help save more energy.
“Going green matters to Festival because it’s the right thing to do,” said Cody Sandahl – Energy & Material Recovery Manager. “One of our company’s core values is to make a positive difference in the communities we serve, and using our resources responsibly, donating as much as we can to food pantries, reducing waste, and saving energy are great examples of the many ways that we can achieve this.
Additionally, Festival Foods uses heat recovery from refrigeration systems for space heating, has electronically commutated motors (ECMs) which use 60 percent less electricity than the industry standard, and has implemented leak detection systems to prevent energy waste. Energy Star Certified Appliances are also the standard at all stores.
Other small touches that have a big impact include sinks that use low flow spray valves, motion sensor lights in offices and restrooms, and use of recycled building materials.
“When homes and businesses make decisions to reduce waste and save energy, everybody wins,” added Sandahl. “On a global scale we can only make a small impact, but within the communities that we serve the impacts are much greater.
Our waste reduction efforts affect local landfills, our energy saving measures reduce greenhouse gas emissions from nearby power plants, our recycling programs provide materials to local manufacturers, and our food donations affect local families. The more we embrace these environmentally and socially responsible business practices, the more we’re able to invest back into our communities.”
Customers benefit from various green initiatives. For example, those who use a reusable, biodegradable cloth bag receive a 5 cent discount. Festival also provides recycling stations for cardboard and plastic bags.
Festival’s bakery and produce departments regularly donate leftover food to local pantries to avoid food waste.
Learn more about their green initiatives here.
Author: Breanna Butler
Breanna Butler is an award-winning multimedia producer born and raised in Central Wisconsin. She enjoys exploring and writing about the community. She lives in Marshfield with her husband and furry family.
