Planet Organic Market Eco-Karma Committee Helps Our Environment

Good work goes a long way for our earth

Planet Organic Markets, Canada’s leading natural and organic supermarket chain, is helping the earth through its Eco Karma Committee, an employee-based committee dedicated to improving the environment and corporate citizenship.

As part of Planet Organic’s Good Works program, the Eco Karma Committee was formed to lead the way in creating a healthier, more earth-friendly Planet Organic Market. “Our purpose was to upgrade Planet Organic Market's eco-commitment,” says Pat Tufts, chairperson of the committee and Store Manager in Calgary. “We’ve made a lot of progress over the past year and now we’re making a positive difference.”

Since the committee was developed, Planet Organic Markets has built partnerships with the Sierra Club of Canada, a grassroots non-profit agency dedicated to protecting the integrity of our global ecosystems. The company donates a portion of profits to The Sierra Club of Canada in an effort to expand environmental initiatives throughout the country.

“We also wanted to help children in third world countries,” said Pat Tufts. “We chose the Foster Parents Plan of Canada because it’s a child-centred development organization improving the lives of children, their families and communities in 45 developing countries since 1937.” For each Planet Organic Market across Canada, three children from Foster Parents Plan are sponsored by the company. So far, there are 15 children sponsored, and with two more locations opening soon, six more children will join the list. Planet Organic Markets also encourages its customers to sponsor other children through Foster Parents Plan.

In addition, the Eco Karma Committee has teamed up with the Pembina Institute; harnessing the power of the wind into electricity. Planet Organic purchases wind power energy for more than 50 computers, including all cashiers’ tills. “We know that clean, renewable sources of energy have direct health benefits and are worth investing in,” says Pat Tufts. “That’s why we buy electricity from the Pembina Institute, a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to sustainable energy solutions.” The bulk purchase for 24- Megawatt hours of wind energy is equivalent to 24 tonnes of CO2 emissions. This is equal to taking 20 average cars off the road for an entire year.

Another Eco Karma Committee goal is to find environmentally superior solutions in cleaning products used to clean the supermarkets, eco-friendly deli containers, recycling stations, in-house recycling, and food donations. “We’re testing out new pagoda containers, which are made from managed trees and can be composted,” claims Pat. “We’re even using New Leaf Good newspaper for our newsletters made from 100% recycled, 40% post-consumer waste, processed chlorine-free.”

Planet Organic Markets is in the process of creating an Eco Karma Booklet for each supermarket. The booklet will educate staff how they can create a healthier environment. Visit www.planetorganic.ca to learn more about Planet Organic Markets.

ABOUT PLANET ORGANIC
Planet Organic Health Corp. (TSX-V: POH), is a natural products industry company, comprising manufacturing, distribution and retail. Recently recognized as one of the Top 50 Companies on the TSX Venture Exchange, the company operates natural food supermarkets in Edmonton, Victoria, Calgary, Port Coquitlam and Halifax under the Planet Organic Market banner. In addition, the company operates 47 natural health outlets under the Sangster’s Health Centre banner. Another POHC company, Trophic Canada is the country’s leading manufacturer of natural supplements.

Contact:
Tiffany Auvinen
National Marketing & Public Relations Coordinator
Planet Organic Markets
250-727-9838 ext. 34
tauvinen@planetorganic.ca