Open Harvest Wins Nebraska Recycling Council’s 2019 Commonwealth Award
By Amy Tabor / General Manager
10/10/19
We have some exciting news to share! Open Harvest Co-op Grocery was awarded the Nebraska Recycling Council Commonwealth Award at the 2019 Awards Luncheon & Workshop on October 4, 2019.
The Commonwealth Award recognizes a business, organization, or individual that gives its time, talent, and treasure to the community in which it operates to improve the natural environment or health, welfare, and common good for all stakeholders through better materials management.
We’ve been in business for over 44 years, and in that time have prioritized the pursuit of environmental sustainability through our ends policy. The ends policy guides the decisions and strategic priorities of the business, ensuring that we are meeting the needs of our cooperative owners and nurturing the surrounding community.
We were chosen for the award based on these recent accomplishments: replaced plastic produce bags with compostable, reduced plastic packaging in bakery, recycled all CLF lightbulbs, all food waste diverted to compost or food recovery donations, provide 100+ products to support zero waste living, 770+ bulk products, site for plastic bag recycling, battery recycling, and bag exchange.
As a cooperatively owned business, our co-op is famous for our wide selection of local and organic products, made-from-scratch deli and bakery items, and exemplary customer service. We are more than just a grocery store; we are a community hub where 30% of the co-op’s sales come from local farmers, artisans, and food producers in the community.
I’m proud of the work that we do every day and am committed to finding new ways to demonstrate leadership in sustainable business practices in Lincoln. I want to thank our board, staff, and customers for all of the hard work and dedication that goes towards supporting our sustainable values.
Be sure to check out the Open Harvest awards video on the Nebraska Recycling Council website!