MOM’s to the Rescue! How a Small Business Setting the Standard for Sustainability
With anthropogenic consequences deteriorating our planet more and more everyday, environmental activists are frequently pressuring businesses to become more sustainable. Often, companies make and advertise small changes, believing they are doing their part to save our declining earth. But, complete overhauls of businesses in efforts to increase their environmental consciousness can be pricey and complicated. Yale graduate and author, Charles Eisenstein, hits the nail on the head when he mentions that “real sustainability may not make business sense.” Yet, I believe that large companies have adequate resources to take the plunge and make the shift to near-complete sustainable business models. Why then, are so few corporations taking these much needed steps towards sustainability? Are big, powerful businesses too absorbed in profits instead of the planet or people? Thankfully, one small (but growing!) business is impressively taking matters into their own hands. MOM’s Organic Market (MOM’s = My Organic Market) has dedicated themselves to protecting and restoring the environment by remaining committed to sustainability in all aspects of their business. Contrastingly, the immense, commercialized organic supplier, Whole Foods Market, falls short in making their business completely sustainable while having a surplus of finances and connections to do so. The measures taken by MOM’s Organic Market serve as a powerful example to other businesses and display that it is possible to remain committed to a sustainable business model which promotes a healthier planet. Hopefully, big businesses whose outputs and inputs greatly affect our earth will notice the progressive practices implemented by MOM’s and be inspired to incorporate them into their companies too.
In 1987, Scott Nash took the first steps in developing MOM’s. The company began as a grocery delivery business and slowly but surely gained recognition through mentions on 60 Minutes and in the Vegetarian Times, a magazine catering toward those wishing to develop a healthier lifestyle. In the early 1990s, the business provided organic and sustainable products to customers by means of delivery, mail-orders, and walk-in retail, depending on the day of the week. Twenty-three years later, MOM’s has 19 locations across four states (Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey) plus DC and employs over 1,000 people. All the while, Scott Nash has managed to keep his growing business focused on its main goal: protecting our planet. (“MOM’s Organic Market History”)
It appears that in almost all aspects of MOM’s, sustainability is in mind. First, let’s focus on the design of their stores. Since 2017, stores have used UltraTouch™ Denim Insulation to insulate the buildings in efforts to divert waste from landfills and repurpose old clothing (much of which is gathered at MOM’s Annual Denim Recycling Drive). Shelving and counters in MOM’s stores are made with sustainably sourced wood with no added formaldehyde and painted with products that don’t contain volatile organic compounds. Flooring in MOM’s is simply polished concrete, eliminating the need for excess materials or special cleaning which could be needed for tile or hardwood floors. Two store locations have green roofs which not only benefit the building by reinforcing roof membranes and helping moderate the buildings temperature, but also the surrounding ecosystem by increasing biodiversity, providing more plants for pollinators, increasing CO2 intake, and purifying the air. These are a few among the many environmentally conscious steps MOM’s takes to literally form the foundation of their business. (“Our Purpose Is to Protect and Restore the Environment”)
With energy production causing the greatest amounts of air pollution, MOM’s is careful to enforce conservative energy practices in their branches (Wales, 2018). Ultra low-watt LED lights illuminate the ceilings, tracks, refrigerators, cases, and exits in MOM’s locations. LED lights last 25% longer than typical incandescent light bulbs and also use 75% less energy, greatly reducing their impact on the environment (“LED Lighting”). Motion sensored lights are also present in MOM’s restrooms and offices, further reducing energy consumption. MOM’s installs skylights wherever possible in order to eliminate the use of lights entirely and completely powers off all equipment and lighting when not in use. On a grander scale, all of the energy used by MOM’s is completely clean and sourced from their own solar panels and purchased Wind Power Renewable Energy Credits to offset about 75% MOM’s electricity use. The other 25% of MOM’s energy is generated through the solar panels atop two of their store locations and their 1.5-megawatt solar operation in Maryland. MOM’s commitment to clean energy greatly reduces their impact on the environment, as do many of their in-store practices. (“Our Purpose Is to Protect and Restore the Environment”)
One unique aspect which MOM’s stores provide to their communities is locations to recycle typically hard-to-recycle objects. Cork, batteries, shoes, cellphones, and glasses can all be dropped off at MOM’s who then directs the waste to organizations which repurpose it. MOM’s also accepts cardboard and collects waste such as eggshells, compostable or biodegradable plastics, and coffee grinds for compost which can help local farms and landscaping crews. Their annual denim and holiday light drives provide the opportunity for materials that would typically get thrown away to have a chance at being repurposed (“Recycling at MOM’s”).”. These recycling efforts helps MOM’s connect with their communities.
Selling locally sourced products is another way that MOM’s strengthens the communities in which they are present. In particular, MOM’s supports local meat farmers, ensuring that they are Certified Organic or adhere to MOM’s strict standards of providing the animals with outdoor access and healthy feed, requiring that they are unaltered by antibiotics or hormones, and monitoring handling and processing protocols (“Our Meat”). Furthermore, MOM’s does not only investigate the meat they sell, but every product available on their shelves, ensuring that they meet their high standards. By remaining committed to their Ingredient Standards guide, MOM’s strays away from products containing artificial, enhancing, preserving, stabilizing, and substitution ingredients. There are 109 ingredients on the banned ingredient list, including high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors and flavors, which are present in many of the foods we eat today. An additional 171 ingredients appear on their supplement and health and body care ingredient watchlists. These lists guide careful selection of clean, healthy, and sustainable products, further displaying their commitment to their customers and the earth. (“Ingredient Watchlists”)
A more well-known and global competitor of MOM’s Organic Market who wishes to appear whole-heartedly committed to their customers and the earth is Whole Foods Market. It was founded in 1980 by four Texan organic-business owners who joined forces. Throughout the 1990s, Whole Foods acquired a multitude of other natural food stores across the United States, resulting in rapid growth. This growth went international in 2002, entering Canada and later the United Kingdom in 2004. Today, they have 500 stores in three countries (“Whole Foods Market History”). In the beginning of 2017, Whole Foods was struggling due to increased competition by stores like Target and Walmart which sold similar products at lower prices, decreasing their sales. They announced the closure of nine store locations and that they were experiencing decreased sales for a sixth consecutive quarter (“Whole Foods Market”). But, two months after this announcement, Amazon bought Whole Foods for $13.7 billion, dramatically increasing the funding and influence behind the already formidable company (“How Whole Foods Started an Organic Revolution and Became a $13 Billion Company”). Considering Whole Foods’ apparent desires to remain committed to sustainability and supporting local businesses, their merger with the notorious distributing company, Amazon, who has a poor history of environmentally friendly practices, unfortunately revealed a deeper commitment to financial gains rather than environmental accountability (Reynolds, 2020).
Similar to MOM’s, Whole Foods prides itself on carrying products which are beneficial to the environment and to their consumer’s health in accordance with their banned-ingredient list. After examining their website, Whole Foods and MOM’s appear to engage in many common sustainability measures. But, Whole Foods’ initiatives often seem to fall short. For example, only 60 of the 497 Whole Foods locations utilize solar energy, and of these 60, the solar energy only acts as a supplement to traditional energy methods (“Environmental Stewardship: Our Green Mission”). Also, much of the information on the Whole Foods website is vague and nonspecific, failing to provide the level of depth willingly provided on the MOM’s website regarding data such as the amount of energy generated by their solar panels or materials used in construction. Whole Foods boasts that they have “dozens and dozens of stores that have been or are in the process of Green Globes or LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification,” but is this really that impressive (Ibid)? Having been a steadily growing business for almost the last 40 years which has now been bought out by the multi-billion dollar company Amazon, implementing sustainable building practices into the construction of all store locations should be more than feasible. Yet, humble MOM’s manages to keep the structure of their stores almost completely sustainable.
If MOM’s can remain wholly committed to environmentally friendly practices, why can’t Whole Foods? Their mission statement declares their purpose as “to nourish people and the planet (“Mission & Values”).” But, they are falling short of the mark. The intensely commercialized Whole Foods may often appear to those who neglect to look beneath the surface as a company flawlessly providing organic products while also maintaining a sustainable business model that supports its suppliers and communities. On their website, they advertise the sustainable and ethical measures they take in choosing their products, running their stores, and interacting with suppliers. But, considering the power and finances behind Whole Foods, especially after merging with Amazon, the expanse of feasible environmentally conscious measures that they can still implement is massive. Whole Foods has the potential to better themselves in ways greater than reducing prices…ways that will “nourish people and the planet.” Surely Whole Foods can afford to follow the example set by MOM’s, whether it is by placing recycling bins for things like batteries and glasses at all store locations or even completely switching to sustainable energy across the company.
The difference between the two organic retailers lies in their motivations. MOM’s owner Scott Nash calls himself an activist-CEO, claiming that MOM’s is “not just a grocery store. If you go to our Facebook page, we hardly ever talk about our products. The product is the means. MOM’s has a bigger purpose ( “Is MOM’s Organic Market Actually a Cult?”).” That bigger purpose is not financial profits, but universal profits. Profits that will increase the health of our planet and those that live there. He sees his company as a vehicle for change — a powerful tool with which exemplary actions can be taken to motivate positive reformations for the betterment of our global community. In contrast, a statement from Whole Foods CEO and cofounder John Mackey when asked about sustainability throughout their supply chain reveals the differing motivation behind his company: “We have literally tens of thousands of suppliers to our company. I always think it’s unfair to ask a business to hold absolutely every one of its suppliers up to some sort of activist standard…I cannot account for the probably 30,000 suppliers we deal with. It’s an impossible request…if we tried to do it we would ruin our business and go bankrupt (“Whole Foods CEO John Mackey Stumbles on Sustainability”).” When it comes down to it, Whole Foods is in it for the profit. Mackey claims that holding accountable all of their suppliers is an impossible request, yet MOM’s manages to do this (but surely, they are not dealing with 30,000 suppliers). Hiring workers to investigate suppliers plus focus on more local or smaller operations could easily identify which businesses achieve the sustainability goals Whole Foods wishes to support. The decision is up to Whole Foods, whether to utilize their recently acquired power and finances to revitalize their organic markets, allowing them to live up to their full potential, or plummet deeper into commercialization, losing sight of their sustainability goals.
Understandably, being completely sustainable is a complicated task that many businesses do not have the financial ability or connections to achieve. Yet, of all companies, large businesses have the proper assets to pursue the often expensive model of sustainability. MOM’s Organic Market courageously pursues sustainability in all aspects of their business despite their small size, setting a precedent that other companies hopefully will learn from. Ultimately, it comes down to where the consumer puts their money. We are voting with our dollars. As of late, the population has become increasingly aware of the dangers facing our environment and in turn, organic and sustainably-sourced foods have grown in popularity (“Americans’ Views about and Consumption of Organic Foods”). If more people purchase organic products from stores like MOM’s and Whole Foods, the prices of these products will decrease, creating a positive feedback loop and eliminating the financial barrier many face when deciding whether or not to buy organic. An increase in demand from customers will make sustainability economically advantageous and consequently eliminate the hesitations many companies have towards becoming increasingly sustainable. Therefore, it is up to us, the consumers, to support MOM’s and like-minded businesses if we wish to see systemic change regarding sustainable practices in commercial industries.
Works Cited
“Americans’ Views about and Consumption of Organic Foods.” Pew Research Center Science & Society, Pew Research Center, 30 Dec. 2019, www.pewresearch.org/science/2016/12/01/americans-views-about-and-consumption-of-organic-foods/.
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Reynolds, Matt. “Jeff Bezos Wants to Fix Climate Change. He Can Start with Amazon.” WIRED, WIRED UK, 18 Feb. 2020, www.wired.co.uk/article/jeff-bezos-climate-change-amazon.
Wales, Mary. “Energy and Pollution: Where Do We Pollute the Most?” Nature’s Path, Nature’s Path, 6 Nov. 2018, www.naturespath.com/en-us/blog/energy-pollution-pollute/.
“Whole Foods CEO John Mackey Stumbles on Sustainability.” YouTube, Mighty Earth, 1 Mar. 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZxERAzRhFw&feature=youtu.be.
“Whole Foods Market History.” Whole Foods Market, www.wholefoodsmarket.com/company-info/whole-foods-market-history.
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