Second Harvest Food Bank in Irvine, a nonprofit organization dedicated to feeding local residents in Orange County, has made significant strides in sustainability and waste reduction. Previously, the food bank spent $100,000 annually on cardboard boxes for food transportation. However, two years ago, they made the decision to replace these boxes with reusable plastic bins, resulting in a one-time cost of $75,000. The investment quickly paid itself off in less than a year, while also eliminating the monthly disposal of 48,000 pounds of cardboard waste. This initiative has earned Second Harvest Food Bank the distinction of being the first food bank in the world to achieve “zero waste” certification from the Green Business Certification Inc., renowned for its LEED designations and sustainable facility certifications.
The CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank, Claudia Bonilla Keller, expressed her excitement about this achievement, emphasizing that it is only the beginning of the organization’s commitment to sustainability and community care. Kelly Alesi, the director of sourcing, logistics, and sustainability, shares Bonilla Keller’s sentiment, hoping that their success will inspire other businesses and nonprofits to follow suit.
By reducing their reliance on single-use products, increasing recycling and composting efforts, Second Harvest Food Bank has significantly reduced the amount of waste sent to landfills. Previously, 40% of their operations’ unused materials ended up in landfills, but now it is less than 5%. These changes have a ripple effect, as fewer resources are needed for production, resulting in fewer trucks on the road and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. It is worth noting that the decomposition of organic waste, like food, in landfills produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. By diverting food donations from landfills, food banks like Second Harvest play a vital role in helping companies meet California’s goal of diverting 75% of organic waste away from landfills by 2025.
Second Harvest Food Bank has also taken additional steps to reduce its carbon footprint, such as operating its own farm near its distribution center in Irvine. By harvesting 50,000-60,000 pounds of produce weekly, they can minimize transportation distances and associated carbon emissions. These efforts, combined with a commitment to diverting waste from landfills, have increased the organization’s waste diversion rate from 60% to an impressive 95.2%.
The certification process for achieving “zero waste” certification is extensive and involves passing numerous checkpoints. Second Harvest Food Bank conducted a thorough analysis of their operations to identify areas for improvement. Some of the changes implemented include creating an environmental purchasing program focused on buying recycled and eco-friendly products, switching from disposable to reusable items for the staff, composting any food that cannot be distributed, utilizing recycled paper and black ink for printing, and transitioning from paper to electronic communication whenever possible.
All team members at Second Harvest Food Bank played a vital role in implementing these changes, showcasing the organization’s dedication to sustainability and waste reduction. The success of their efforts has earned them the Total Resource Use and Efficiency (TRUE) certification, a prestigious recognition awarded by the Green Business Council. With just a handful of sites and organizations in Southern California achieving TRUE certification, Second Harvest Food Bank stands as a leader in sustainability within the region. Furthermore, globally, over 300 facilities and events across 28 countries have achieved TRUE certification, diverting an estimated 5.6 million tons of material from the waste stream.
Overall, Second Harvest Food Bank’s commitment to sustainability, waste reduction, and community care sets a remarkable example for other organizations. By challenging the status quo and implementing innovative solutions, they have proven that any business or nonprofit can make significant strides towards sustainability and waste reduction.
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