Whole Foods added more than 2K organic products in 2022

Whole Foods Market is taking a sustainability victory lap with a new report released Tuesday that highlights efforts by the company in “combatting food waste, reducing its carbon footprint, consciously sourcing products and supporting team members’ growth and wellbeing,” the Amazon-owned grocer said.

The food retailer, which operates some 530 stores and plans to open 55 more in the U.S., U.K. and Canada, noted in the 61-page report that in 2022, it diverted 72% of its stores’ waste from landfills through its rigorous recycling and composting efforts. Whole Foods also donated more than 30 million meals to food rescue and distribution organizations last year, and added more than 2,300 new organic products to its shelves, bringing the company’s total of organic SKUs to more than 37,000 products.  

Caitlin Leibert, Whole Foods' vice president of sustainability, said in an interview with Winsight Grocery Business that the 2022 Impact Report is the grocer’s most cohesive report encapsulating its sustainability strategy. Transparency and engagement are core to the brand’s mission, she said.  

“Our stakeholders, whether it’s customers or team members, suppliers or peers, demand a higher level of transparency from Whole Foods,” she said. “It’s what you expect from a brand like Whole Foods, and we have demanded transparency in our food and our products, and so this is really a step in the right direction. I will say we have room to grow.” 

The company also highlighted its work with local product suppliers in 2022—the grocer awarded $1.7 million to product suppliers through its Local Producer Loan Program and began working with nine new companies through its Emerging Accelerator Program.  

Whole Foods' other accomplishments last year included: 

“Whole Foods Market has a rich legacy of building a more sustainable food system, from our unparalleled Quality Standards to our responsible sourcing and environmental stewardship,” Leibert said in a statement. “Building on the progress we made this past year, we look forward to what we will accomplish in the years ahead as we continue to find new and innovative ways to further our mission.”