1. Successful Waste Prevention Strategies Grocery Industry Initiatives

2. Electronic communications reduce paper waste Food-banking prevents wasteful disposal of foods Grocery retailers and food manufacturers – primary food-bank supporters A huge industry commitment

3. Grocery Industry Initiatives Plastic Pallets Significantly greater number of trips or reuses vs. wood pallets Bulk foods – produce and natural foods Significantly reduces reliance on packaging

4. Grocery Industry Initiatives Growing volume of case-ready perishable foods Meats Produce Shrink-wrapping reduces reliance on cardboard and other more bulky, wasteful packaging

5. Successful Waste Prevention Strategies Hannaford Supermarket Innovations

6. Hannaford Supermarkets Innovations Customer Reusable Fabric Bag Program Distinctive, practical, durable reusable bags Over two million sold Refund-for-Reuse Bag Program Customers receive 5 cents for reuse of each fabric bag Popular with customers, easy Saves plastic and paper bags

7. Hannaford Supermarkets Innovations Reusable Plastic Shipping Crates Tens of thousands used everyday for shipping merchandise to stores Rx bottle recycling – reusing crates over and over = 0 waste Reduces wasteful use of cardboard & other materials Closed loop Shrink Control By Efficient Ordering

8. Hannaford Supermarkets Innovations Food Waste Disposal Hierarchy – less than 10% of food waste goes to landfills Top Priority – Food Banks receive ALL safe, edible non-salable foods Non-edible-by-humans, but safe bulk food wastes go to animal feed Compost Waste disposal

9. Barriers to Successfully Implementing Waste Prevention

10. Resistance to Change Consumer education – key Manufacturer motivations – new product introductions Global economy Cost Prohibitions Over-packaging vs. security, food safety & consumer protection

11. Barriers… Natural Reliance on our abundant resources Competitive vs. collaborative forces Consumer demand

12. Barriers… Understanding the greatest contributors to waste: Plastics & polystyrene (Styrofoam) Contaminated paper & wood fiber Glass, metal

13. Waste Prevention Where Could Vermont Focus? First identify – go after low hanging fruit Prioritize initiatives Focus on visible, user-friendly, tangible WINS Rethink and refresh through EDUCATION Reduce-Reuse-Recycle – Primarily REDUCE Share new ideas to stimulate change Create incentives to achieve objectives

14. Waste Prevention Efforts Encourage Local Involvement Solutions unique to Vermont Vermont-produced products Made in Vermont Closed loop works best locally Start with small steps

15. Key Grocery - Waste Prevention Strategies Encourage SUSTAINABILITY Culture Invest in future REDUCING waste – best for business Best ROI LEADERSHIP beyond compliance Innovation by suppliers

16. Key Strategies 0 Waste – A good goal, but Must be realistic Take one step at a time Measure and report progress Be willing to adjust and change