Feature image: The TRUE Gold Thrive Market fulfillment center in Hanover, Pennsylvania. Image credit: Thrive Market / Edouard Duprat.
Thrive Market is aiming to become the world’s first climate-positive grocery store, and we’re using TRUE to work toward that goal. Thrive Market was founded in 2014 with a mission to make healthy living easy and affordable for everyone, and, in doing so, to tread as lightly on the Earth as possible. Today, we are committed to achieving zero waste, carbon negativity and plastic neutrality to achieve this mission.
We moved our fulfillment operations to zero waste back in 2018 and have been recycling, composting or reusing at least 90% of all materials that enter our buildings ever since. By 2022, all three of our fulfillment centers (FCs) earned TRUE certification. These FCs are the:
- TRUE Gold Thrive Market Hanover fulfillment center in Hanover, Pennsylvania.
- TRUE Silver Batesville Thrive Market fulfillment center in Batesville, Indiana.
- TRUE Certified Thrive Market Reno fulfillment center in Sparks, Nevada.
Zero waste is now thoroughly integrated into our FCs. We use compactors to compress cardboard and plastic into bales that can be diverted to recycling facilities. Our shipping packaging is 100% recyclable and we give preferential purchasing to vendors who use close to 100% recyclable packaging; durable goods over disposables; certified, sustainably produced paper and wood products; and used, refurbished and remanufactured items.
Feature image: A worker at the Thrive Market fulfillment center. Image credit: Thrive Market / Edouard Duprat.
Staff are also trained on zero waste to make the highest impact. Each FC appoints a zero waste lead to ensure we're continually finding opportunities to minimize our waste output. Our standardized zero waste program and recycling and trash handling are incorporated into the FCs' onboarding programs. Employees are given reusable water bottles to reduce individual-level waste, as well.
We continually look for ways to reduce waste. Earning TRUE certification validates our waste reduction and diversion efforts meaningfully and motivates us to continue progressing toward our long-term sustainability goals.
TRUE certification is just one commitment we’ve made on our five-year journey to build the world’s first climate-positive grocery store. We’ve made these commitments because we feel duty bound to take urgent climate action and protect our planet. We know that business can be a catalyst for positive change. All it takes is some determination, collaboration, empathy and commitment. This initiative has helped drive us toward more efficient business and environmental practices, and we’re excited to continue to identify ways to reduce waste and make even more sustainable improvements in the future.
Learn more about the TRUE Gold Thrive Market Hanover fulfillment center