What is Earth Lovers? Earth Lovers is the corporate social investment and sustainability department of our business. Today, on Earth Day, 22 April 2022 we are going to share some of our successes and our goals for 2022.
“Earth Lovers is the practical way we live our values every day.”
– Brian Coppin, CEO & Co-Founder, Food Lover’s Market
Earth Lovers consists of 4 pillars:
- Our Family: Building a conscious leadership culture and addressing inequality through the power of our business.
- Our World: Tackling environmental changes through the power of our business.
- Our Suppliers: Growing suppliers and producers that align with our values.
- Our Community: using our business to support the eradication of hunger
Our Purpose: Providing our customers with fresh, healthy, affordable foods for generations to come.
1. Our Family:
Building a conscious leadership culture and addressing inequality through the power of our business.
With our internal motto of ‘same faces, higher places,’ we saw 15 training managers complete our Training Manager Development Course and 275 delegates across our business complete the Leadership Development course.
In 2021, we were able to introduce 4 initiatives to better serve our people; new uniforms across the entire staff complement, medical insurance, long service recognition awards and a colleague WhatsApp line.
2. Our World:
Tackling environmental changes through the power of our business.
We were the first retailer to offer paper straws and paper bags exclusively. We were able to reduce our energy consumption by 3.5% last year and are striving for more in 2022. We have set a target to increase our recycling by 60% and decrease our water usage by 15%, by March 2024. Our focus areas are renewable energy, waste management packaging and water.
3. Our Suppliers:
Growing suppliers and producers that align with our values.
2021 saw 4 of our Seeds Of Change finalists and social enterprises listed and on sale at Food Lover’s Market stores. The Seeds of Change Supplier Partnership Programme 2022 is underway with the top 10 to be announced very soon. Our focus areas for 2022 are to expand the range of Fair Trade, organic, free-range and sustainably sourced as well as locally produced products on our shelves. And to grow our You First range – in line with our purpose.
4. Our community:
Using our business to support the eradication of hunger.
Did you know each Food Lover’s Market store supports a child-centric organisation in their immediate community through feeding schemes and donations? This is also our focus area; to continue to build relationships with these child-centric organisations in our communities and empower our colleagues to change the lives of our beneficiaries.
May 2022 will also see the next instalment of Hunger Month, a highlight in our Earth Lovers calendar. Hunger Month 2022 marks the 6th annual Hunger Month. Through our long-term partnership with Food Forward SA and our Hunger Month initiative, we have created just over 3.6 million meals for those in need.
What is your goal for Earth Day 2022? Share it with us on social media.
