FTSLA News

Sustainability Workshops at Provender Conference,
October 6-8

FTSLA is coordinating two sustainability workshops at the Provender Alliance Conference: "Social Sustainability: Giving Back in the Workplace & Community" and "Strategies for Sustainable Sourcing." You'll hear insights and experience from peers such as Ashland Food Co-op, GloryBee Foods, Hummingbird Wholesale, Nature's Path and Sundance Natural Foods. The conference also includes great sessions on sustainable business topics such as Domestic Fair Trade, packaging and product impact and bottled water. Registration is now open online.

FTSLA at All Things Organic and Expo East, October 13-16

FTSLA will be at Expo East/All Things Organic this fall, taking part in an educational session on "Sustainability Spectrum, Philosophy to Metrics," coordinating the Responsible Packaging Awards and hosting a social gathering and networking event for members and others interested in learning about FTSLA. You can find conference details and registration information online. Information on the Responsible Packaging Awards and networking session will follow.

Correction: FTSLA Board Members

In our last e-newsletter, we inadvertently omitted Alissa Becker, UNFI Environmental Coordinator, in our list of board members and incorrectly listed Lisa Madsen as a member. Welcome to our Board of Directors and thank your for your service Alissa!

Member News

Meet our new members!

Central Co-op is a member-owned natural foods cooperative in Seattle dedicated to sustainable practices, community and the local economy. Key sustainability activities include: charging for single-use shopping bags to reduce usage, energy upgrades, creating a local food definition and signage, tracking local food sales and discontinuing plain bottled water. They're looking forward to bigger and better things with FTSLA!

Throughout its more than 100 year history, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas has earned its reputation as a manufacturer of the finest extracts in the world. They are committed to quality, responsible business and excellence with all products and services, with a strong and growing certified organic line, making them a perfect fit for FTSLA.

Turtle Mountain LLC specializes in the creation and production of organic and all natural dairy-free foods. Built on a proven commitment to sustainable agriculture and responsible business practices, Turtle Mountain is pleased to join forces with FTSLA in continuing its journey toward sustainability.

Member Updates

United Natural Foods implemented hydrogen fuel cell technology for vehicles at its Florida distribution center. Learn more online.

Job openings with FTSLA members

Organic Valley is seeking a full-time social media specialist to join its interactive marketing team.

Please see our previous e-newsletters and twitter feed for previous job postings that may still be open.

Call for Nominations: Responsible Packaging Awards

The Responsible Packaging Awards will be presented October 14th at 4pm at Natural Products Expo East & All Things Organic.

Please submit nominations (your company and/or peers) by September 1, 2010. Awards are given bi-annually to companies with leading-edge responsible packaging practices.

Previous recipients include Organic Essence, Eden Foods, Straus Creamery, Nature's Path, Gaia Herbs, and others.

Background:
The Responsible Packaging Project is a collaboration across the organic and natural industry that seeks to drive environmental and socially responsible packaging innovation and raising the bar across our trade. Key activities include

1. Drafting and vetting Responsible Packaging Guidelines for the organic industry to guide action and catalyze innovation
2. Coordinating Responsible Packaging Forums - interactive learning and dialogue enabling a zero waste future

Responsible Packaging Guidelines Three Legs:

1. Transparency: In determining guidelines, and preferred materials and inputs
2. Extended Producer Responsibility: Companies assume responsibility for addressing the lifecycle impact of packaging to reach zero waste
3. Ecological Principles: Define what is truly recyclable through manufacturing processes ('technical nutrient'), or compostable in nature ('biological nutrient')

We invite you to learn more and join us in these efforts.

Sustainability Program Tips & Resources

The presentations from FTSLA's last webinar, "Communicating Your Sustainability Practices With Impact and Integrity," are online.

Green Biz has launched a Carbon Management Center, offering guidance to manage climate and energy impacts.

A GreenBiz webinar on zero waste, "Getting to Zero," is archived online for free viewing.

Sustainability News Headlines

Good news: Government reauthorizes Child Nutrition Act with funding for grants to support the use of organic food in school lunches.

Sweet news: A US Federal judge revoked approval to plant genetically-modified (GMO) sugar beets until a proper environmental impact is completed, overturning a lower court decision allowing planting to proceed. Crops that have been planted this year can be harvested but new plantings are prohibited.

Jennifer Harrison of Organic Valley recently wrote an insightful article on climate change, agriculture and how organic farming practices help reduce and sequester greenhouse gas emissions.

For updates on sustainability news and resources, and FTSLA member accomplishments, follow us on twitter @ftsla.

Contact Info

Natalie Reitman-White, Executive Director
541.852.0745 or info@ftsla.org