Commercial, Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions, Commercial, Solar, Sourcing Renewables - December 22, 2023
United Natural Foods Adds Solar, Energy Efficiency Programs
Grocery wholesaler United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) completed a roof-mounted solar array installation - the largest to date - at its Howell, New Jersey distribution center.
The company plans to add an even larger roof-mounted solar array at its Riverside, California location.
United Natural Foods' solar initiatives serve to lower its carbon footprint and reduce the energy costs associated with operating its distribution hubs. So far, the company has implemented LED lighting conversions in all of its facilities, which not only decreases greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and lowers costs, but also improves safety by increasing lighting and limiting maintenance work.
It also completed an electric vehicle blueprint that outlines how the company plans to transition to zero-emission vehicles in the state of California.
UNFI launched the Climate Action Partnership to encourage suppliers to make credible climate commitments and provide scalable resources specific to the food system. This forum allows the company to share best practices with suppliers who have common goals and drive more collaboration and efficiency across supply chains.
Details were released in its 13th annual Better for All report detailing UNFI’s progress on its social, environmental, and governance objectives during the company’s 2023 fiscal year that ended July 29, 2023.
“UNFI is building a company that creates sustainable value for stakeholders and shareholders, and a better food system for all,” said Sandy Douglas, President and CEO of UNFI, in a statement. “In FY2023, we issued new responsible sourcing policies and position statements, expanded supplier diversity efforts, reaffirmed our broader commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), started work on our ninth and largest on-site solar array, completed LED lighting conversions across all of our distribution centers (DCs), and deployed a new system that helps us reduce food waste in our DCs.”
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