We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again—it’s not always easy being green, but it sure is worth it! Here at Nugget Markets, we SEE sustainability with a threefold dedication to Social Responsibility (taking care of people), Environmental Stewardship (taking care of the planet) and Economic Vitality (taking care of business, sustainably speaking). We’ve taken major strides in energy savings, water conservation, food waste diversion and more, with goals for even more eco-friendly operations in the years to come!

Check out a few of our extraordinary sustainability stats:

• In 2019, Nugget Markets received the Sacramento Area Sustainable Business Award, and was recognized as a Sustainable Business of the Year for our efforts in solid waste reduction!
• We donate 125,000 pounds of food to food banks annually, and send nearly twice that amount of inedible food to become compost and fertilizer.
• 78% of waste leaving our stores is recycled! 
• Since 2015, we diverted roughly 6,000 tons of waste from landfills.
• Since 2014, we reduced our water consumption by 12%, saving more than 5.3 million gallons (twice the amount of water held in all the aquariums at Monterey Bay)!
• By eliminating the energy needed to produce those 5.3 million gallons, we also prevented more than 18 TONS of carbon from entering the atmosphere.
• Our associates participate in May is Bike Month, replacing nearly 2,000 car miles each year with biking, walking and carpooling.
• Four of our Yolo County stores are certified bicycle friendly!
• Every Nugget Markets building uses LED lights, which use half the watts of CFLs, live three times as long and convert all of their energy into light (no energy lost to heat).
• Since 2015, we’ve reduced our energy consumption by 21%!
• Our plastic bags are made from 30% post-consumer recycled content and 50% green energy and can be used at least 125 times.

Want to go green, too? Here are a few pro tips to help you get started:

• Bring your own reusable cup or straw to save 25¢ at our coffee and juice bar.
• Use reusable produce bags—look for them in our produce department!
• Bike to your local Nugget Markets.
• Charge your electric car at our Elk Grove and Vacaville locations.
• Skip the packaging by buying ingredients in larger quantities (bulk or family packs) to reduce the amount of individually wrapped items. 
• Use reusable grocery bags—we offer a variety of fun and eco-friendly options! 
• If you’re using a paper bag for shopping, reuse, recycle or compost it when you’re done.

To learn more, talk to one of our Green Gurus, check out our sustainability page or email our sustainability coordinator at sustainability@nuggetmarket.com.