Calling all members - please send us updates about your latest sustainability program accomplishments to share in our E-newsletter. Help us recognize your efforts and facilitate best practice sharing! Please send a 25-40 word summary describing a recent program development or achievement, and the results or impact, with a website link for more information if applicable. Images are welcome and will be used as space allows.
FTSLA News
FTSLA & OTA Webinar 3/25: Sustainability Measurement and Reporting: Strategy for Success
When: March 25th, 11 AM Pacific/2 PM Eastern Cost: $25 for FTSLA and OTA members (50% off regular price, includes e-list subscribers) Register: Email Melissa Schweisguth at FTSLA for a registration link or with any questions, or call 541-727-0460
Speakers
Mark McElroy, Deloitte & VT Center for Sustainability
Kimberly Dickey, Frontier Co-op
Melissa Schweisguth, FTSLA
What we'll cover: Performance measurement is essential for strategic sustainability management, providing an objective way to measure progress and ROI, and set goals. Communicating on your activities is also critical to reach the growing responsible consumer segment. Yet, many companies are just starting to measure and report, or haven't yet begun, and face questions about how to choose metrics, establish or expand measurement systems, evaluate results and communicate findings. This webinar will address these key questions through expert information and interactive dialogue, helping you begin or build on current efforts.
FTSLA membership is open to organic food businesses with a drive to implement leading edge sustainability programs, who sign on to our Declaration of Sustainability, and commit to annual sustainability reporting and ongoing performance improvement. We offer diverse resources and direct support to advance members' efforts while uniting like minded peers to drive wider change. If you're not a member, please check out our membership program page and contact us for more information.
Save the date - Organicology, February 10-12, 2011!
We're partnering with Orgeon Tilth, Organic Seed Alliance and Organically Grown Company to produce Organicology 2011. Mark your calendars now to attend this well-received, engaging and informative event. FTSLA will be organizing a Sustainable Business Intensive on 2/10/11, building on our well-received Intensive in 2009. We're also organizing well several workshops on sustainability issues and policy during the main conference. You can find information online.
Expo West FTSLA-OTA Member Meeting Report Back
OTA and FTSLA coordinated a member networking and dialogue session on "Communicating the Benefits of Organic and Sustainable Business Practices." You can find the slides from FTSLA's presentation on our website
Responsible Packaging Awards & Guidelines
We collaborated with Whole Foods Market, Whole Foods' Green Mission, UNFI and Sustainable Business Practices on the inaugural Responsible Packaging Awards, presented at Expo West 2010. Congratulations to the nineteen companies recognized for leadership in applying responsible packaging principles! A list of awardees and the principles are available at sustainablebizness.com. These principles will be updated and expanded through a collaborative process. Please contact Natalie Reitman-White if you're interested in getting involved.
Discounted Registration for Organic Summit via FTSLA
If you're planning to attend this year's Organic Summit, you can get $100 off the registration fee through 9/11/11 using the registration code FTSLA. Registration is $495 with this code. Visit theorganicsummit.com/register for more information and to register, and enter FTSLA as your promotional code.
Sponsor Profile: United Natural Foods (UNFI)
UNFI is a Lead Sponsor for 2010 - thanks! UNFI is the leading independent national distributor of natural, organic and specialty foods and related products. It offers nutritional supplements, personal care items and organic produce. In addition to distribution services, UNFI provides a range of innovative, value-added services for customers and suppliers, to foster mutual success and growth. UNFI has a long-standing commitment and a proactive concern for the environment including a reverence for sustainable agriculture, a deep focus on stewardship of the land and efforts to reduce its ecological footprint. UNFI's commitment to these principles is evidenced by the ongoing incorporation of environmentally sustainable practices into its business activities. Learn more here.
Member News
Welcome new members! We'll profile these members in a future issue.
Frontier Natural Products Cooperative submitted their annual FTSLA sustainability report, available to members in the Member Center on our website. A public version is also available at Frontier's website.
UNFI is transitioning to hydrogen fuel cell technology to power the lift truck fleet at its Sarasota, FL distribution center. This is expected to save about 640,000 kilowatt hours annually. UNFI is adding 29 new hydrogen fuel cell-powered lift trucks, and retrofitting 36 existing lift trucks, and expects this will be in place by June. Read more here.
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