How to choose a sustainable supermarket

We continue with our section on sustainable products and services! This week: a sustainable supermarket.

When you go shopping, are you worried that the store you are going to is sustainable? Would you like to try to buy from facilities that care about their environmental impact?

This time we wanted to go a step further to collect some criteria that we can take into account to choose a supermarket that follows sustainable practices.

Sustainability plan

The first thing we should consider is whether that company has environmental, economic, and social commitments already implemented or aspires to implement them in a period of time. 

This information can usually be found on their website, where you can access and read those actions to understand their level of commitment.

Sustainable Energy Sources

Supermarkets are establishments that require a great demand of energy consumption. We must understand which part of this energy is produced by renewable energies and whether the company is committed to reduce its carbon footprint.

Distribution and logistics

Do they use a sustainable transport fleet?

Distribution and logistics are a fundamental pillar for the operation of a supermarket, so it is important to pay attention if the transport they use is “fed” by fossil fuels such as gasoline or diesel. As more desirable alternatives: natural gas, which would reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, improving air quality, and much better the use of  electric vehicles that will also reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.

We would also need to analyze the products that the supermarket sells, do they give priority to  local and seasonal products? Is the food imported? And therefore, does it “travels” a lot of kilometers?

Zero waste

Do you have the possibility to buy your fruits and vegetables without plastic bags? Or even better, Have they banned the plastic bags for this purpose?

It is important to know the policies that the supermarket is implementing to reduce waste, both from the establishment itself, such as recycling and separating the waste they generate, and for their users, such as letting you bring your containers to take the products home from the butcher & fish shop, deli…

Food waste

Food waste accounts for 8% of the total emissions of greenhouse gases produced by man. 

What does the company do with products that are about to expire? do they have refrigerators available with offers of these types of products? Do they participate as suppliers in projects that avoid food waste?

With this criteria, we could acquire more sustainable habits leading towards a more responsible consumption. Let’s reduce our environmental impact!