PCC Community Market Delis Go Plastic-Free

Seattle-based PCC Community Market has introduced compostable deli containers in all 11 of its co-op’s scratch delis. The move will remove 8 million pieces of plastic packaging per year from the supply chain, which accounts for more than 80% of the plastic packaging used in the delis. It is the latest effort to make the delis plastic-free by 2022, a goal that was announced last year.

“We are one of a few grocers in the country committed to eliminating plastics at such an ambitious scale,” said Brenna Davis, VP of social and environmental responsibility for PCC. “According to scientists, plastics persist in the environment for generations and over 700 marine species are impacted by them. PCC wants the scratch-made food served in our deli to be both good for you and good for the environment. And for us, that includes the ingredients from which it’s made and the packaging in which it’s served.”

To ensure success of the campaign, PCC is dedicated to educating shoppers on the proper disposal of the compostable packaging in the co-op as well as in homes. The new “compostable” logo will be printed on all of the compostable deli packaging, which includes the new deli half-pint, pint and quart containers; cold and hot drink cups; cup sleeves; soup containers; napkins; and pizza boxes. The new logo is open-source, which allows other retailers and businesses to use it as well. In addition to in-store signage, the initiative will include a digital campaign focused on outreach to other industry leaders and publications.

As PCC works toward a plastic-free deli, it is collaborating with packaging manufacturers to identify innovative, new packaging options. The co-op anticipates rolling out additional sustainable and functional packaging in its deli in 2020. The retailer is also exploring a zero-waste approach that would encourage shoppers to take part in reducing packaging by using their own containers in the bulk section. 

A national leader in sustainability, PCC began to reduce its use of petroleum-based plastics in 2007 when it eliminated plastic grocery bags from all stores, five years before the city of Seattle’s plastic bag ban in 2012. The co-op introduced compostable trays in its meat and seafood department in 2010 and replaced plastic straws and utensils with compostable alternatives in 2015, three years before the Seattle’s ban on these plastics went into effect in 2018.