Page 25 - Chicago Market Community - Action Plan

RECOMMENDED INITIATIVES: Focus Area 1 - Resource Use

FoodPrint, 2023). Much of this loss
stems from customers' concerns and
misunderstandings about food spoilage
and expiration dates.

Addressing food waste responsibly is not
as simple as committing to compost any
unused food or scraps - some methods
of food waste prevention are preferable
to others. The diagram on the right, from
the US Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), ranks the primary methods for
food waste recovery, with the most
beneficial approaches toward the left.
For example, while composting excess
food prevents it from heading to landfill,
it is better to avoid that surplus in the
first place or utilize that food for its
intended purpose - nutrients for people Preferential hierarchy of food waste reduction (US EPA, 2023a)
or animals.

Utilizing the strategies outlined below, Chicago Market can meet the challenge of achieving zero in-store
food waste. These priority strategies are presented to correspond with the food recovery hierarchy, in order
of importance, beginning with the most preferred.

Priority Strategies

Source Reduction - Dynamic pricing & past-prime displays. It is standard practice for stores to discount
produce past peak freshness and products approaching their sell-by dates (salvage food). Yet, the waste
problem persists. Chicago Market should be strategic in pricing and displaying discount items to help
prevent additional food waste. Sales price is the primary determinant of demand for grocery stores. As
a value-driven company, Chicago Market should utilize dynamic pricing models to prioritize selling past-
peak items. Dynamic pricing can be especially effective for fresh produce, where price labels can easily
be changed. Some leading stores are turning to digital price displays for inter-day price adjustments to
respond to demand changes and move perishable items.
Grocers understand that design and customer experience matter in retail, yet many stores still utilize
the "bargain bin" approach to selling end-of-shelf-life products and produce. Rather than highlighting the
environmental detriment of unused products, stores may pile salvage food items in a shopping car or place
them on an out-of-the-way shelf as a last-ditch effort to recoup some value. Chicago Market can invert that
approach and celebrate salvage items displaying imperfect or less fresh produce in a highly visible area that
is flexible enough to accommodate various item types. By including a dignified, permanent discount area
in the store design, Chicago Market can communicate to its customers that the company cares about food
waste and is willing to reduce its profits to avoid it. This display area should be accompanied by signage
highlighting and quantifying the negative impacts of food waste.

CHICAGO MARKET SUSTAINABILITY ACTION PLAN 25