BriarPatch Food Co-op: A Multi-Faceted Approach to Sustainability

Sustainability is at the core of BriarPatch Food Co-op’s business decisions.

The co-op has had a sustainability coordinator on the team for several years, and the position has grown to now oversee two stores. Each expansion, improvement and refinement the co-op makes is approached as an opportunity to advance earth-friendly goals.

BriarPatch Food Co-op began in 1976, moving to new locations over the years as the business grew. By the time 2006 rolled around, sales and shopper volume were such that a purpose-built store was the answer. The co-op was the first commercial business in Nevada County, Calif., to be LEED® certified, and when the Grass Valley store opened its doors on Sierra College Drive in 2007, it was the culmination of a community-wide educational process that began with owners’ and shoppers' desires for a green building.  

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) is a set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of green buildings. To achieve LEED® certification, a building needs to meet rigorous standards in both construction methods and materials used.

Fast forward to August 2023, when BriarPatch opened the doors of its new Auburn, Calif., store. The build-out of the space includes sustainability-minded details that make the store a great example of the current possibilities in green construction.

Green practices are interwoven throughout BriarPatch’s approach to business, with ongoing initiatives in multiple areas:

Refrigerants

Hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant leaks represent the largest single greenhouse gas emission at BriarPatch. The co-op is now a proud member of GreenChill, a voluntary EPA partnership that works collaboratively with food retailers to reduce refrigerant emissions. The new Auburn location has a CO2 natural refrigeration system; only 2% of U.S. grocery stores currently use this technology. The natural refrigeration system will cut overall climate impact by more than 50% between both locations. Preventative maintenance and in-house leak detection at the Grass Valley location continues to reduce emissions, and the co-op recently began the process of upgrading the refrigeration system with a new, more eco-friendly refrigerant. BriarPatch is transitioning from R-404A, which has a global warming potential (GWP) of 3,920, to R-448A, which has a GWP of 1,273. This will end up being approximately one-third of the GWP at the Grass Valley location.

Energy

On average, the Grass Valley location generates approximately 50% of electricity use with a 295-kilowatt solar carport. The co-op is also working toward the goal of reducing demand with energy-efficiency projects, such as adding doors to the refrigerated cases and installing LED lighting.

Food Waste

BriarPatch strives to keep 100% of its food from going to waste. Unsaleable, edible food goes to staff or is donated to local hunger relief agencies. On average, the co-op has donated 28,000 pounds of food to hunger relief annually. Food waste not fit for consumption is picked up by local farmers three times a week. Annually, approximately 50 tons of organics — including pulp from the juice bar, produce culls, coffee grinds and trim from preparing deli and bakery items — go to local farmers for animal feed and compost. About 250 tons of food waste per year is diverted from the landfill in this way.

Waste Diversion

Current waste diversion is about 60%, thanks to reducing, reusing, donating, recycling and composting. Beyond municipal recycling, annually the co-op:

• Reuses/recycles over 100 tons of cardboard;
• Donates unused displays and equipment to fellow food co-ops and local school food programs;
• Recycles approximately three tons of plastic pallet wrap through a partnership with UNFI;
• Recycles approximately 3,500 pounds of batteries on behalf of the community; and
• Diverts 50 tons of organics to local farmers for composting and animal feed.

Packaging

The goal is to reduce in-house plastic packaging, and in 2023 BriarPatch reduced spending on single-use plastic by 32%. Packaging and merchandising policies emphasize the importance of using recyclable and reusable materials throughout the store. Recently, reduced spending on single-use plastics has meant more funds available for renewable/recyclable materials. Bulk cheese is now wrapped in biodegradable cellophane, and the produce department continues to work with farm-direct partners to identify the most sustainable packaging available.

Water

BriarPatch is continuously exploring ways to reduce water use and update equipment with water-saving alternatives. The co-op has used 28% less water since 2021 by working with the water filtration company to recycle more reverse osmosis water, saving 1 million gallons of fresh water per year.

Reusing and Recycling

BriarPatch provides complimentary recycling to customers for hard-to-recycle items like batteries and plastic film. The local Rotary clubs have a plastic film recycling program that has received tons of customer plastic film collected at BriarPatch’s stores, which will be repurposed into Trex decking materials. Reusable cutlery was also introduced at both locations, so single-use forks, knives and spoons are no longer offered. Customers can use them as they eat at the stores, or take them to go and bring them back the next time they’re in the store.

Through this multi-faceted approach to sustainability and environmental stewardship, BriarPatch seeks to act as a leader among local businesses and food co-ops nationally — and inspire folks who walk through their doors to do what they can to tread more lightly on the earth.