Zero-Waste Inspired®
Our Zero-Waste Inspired® mandate is integral to everything we do.
Innovation
Innovative recyclable packaging minimizes the use of plastics and has successfully reduced waste and shrinkage at our supermarket customers by increasing the shelf life of our products, thereby reducing spoilage. For example, using our packaging technologies, cilantro maintains its quality for up to 11 days, or more than 50% longer than seven days with conventional packaging. In fact, this technology has led to a significant decline in product shrinkage among retailers. Our hydro basil, packaged in a recyclable and biodegradable pot, increasingly available in major supermarket chains in the northeast, is a perfect example of the Edible Garden (NASDAQ:EDBL) approach and goal of reducing plastic consumption.
Making a Difference
The Edible Garden (NASDAQ:EDBL) Zero-Waste Inspired® ESG/Sustainability mandate has made a measurable difference to the environment. As part of our involvement with Walmart Project Gigaton™, an initiative with a goal of eliminating one billion metric tons, or one gigaton, of CO2 emissions from global value chains by 2030, it is estimated that during 2021, we contributed to the effort by saving 21,000 gallons of gasoline, recycling 38 tons of cardboard, conserving 500,000 barrels of oil, and avoiding 442 tons of CO2 emissions.
A sustainability survey conducted by Thepacker.com, the fresh fruit and vegetable industry’s leading source for news, information, and analysis, provides further evidence of the importance of sustainable products to consumers. More than half of consumers surveyed were more likely to buy products labeled as “climate-smart,” 54% prefer recyclable packaging, and 25% indicated that they only buy from brands that can demonstrate how the brand addresses climate change. These results demonstrate why our ESG/sustainability approach has resonated extremely well with both retailers and consumers who care about the environmental impact of the food supply chain, which we expect will help us continue to expand our distribution channels and drive demand for our products in the future.