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May 2021 Newsletter

Earlier this week we gathered for our virtual climate programming at Natural Products Expo West. Traditionally, Climate Day at Expo West is our favorite time of the year. We love getting together with the wider community for panels, keynotes, and celebrating the work that you and your peers are doing to create a green, clean, and just world. While this year looked a bit different, I'm still feeling energized, inspired, and more committed than ever about the potential for our community to come together to collectively act on climate and scale our impact. 

Below you can read about 2 NEW initiatives that were announced: the Climate Campaign and UNFI Climate Action Hub. These initiatives have the potential to create transformative change; one to mobilize Americans to call on our elected officials to lead on climate, and the other to scale carbon emissions reductions throughout the natural products industry. 

We're so excited to go on this journey with you all!

Be sure not to miss the groundbreaking IEA report that came out last week! We may look back at this report as one of the most important milestones and turning points for the climate movement. The historically conservative IEAs report made clear that we must stop investment in all new oil, gas, and coal immediately. It sent a shockwave through the energy and finance world. 

It sure feels like humanity may indeed act in our own self-interest to prevent the worst impacts of climate change in what the United Nations has called this "decisive decade". It's not a moment too soon. 

Take care, 

Caitlin 

RESOURCES

Climate Campaign Launches at Expo West

In case you missed the session at Expo West, on Monday we announced a Campaign to mobilize the tens of millions of natural products industry shoppers to advocate for bold climate action! During the webinar we shared results from a survey we conducted in March that shows the vast majority of the people who buy your products are alarmed about climate change and want to take action, but they don't know where to start. That's where this campaign steps in! If you signed up for Expo West you can see the presentation here, otherwise, we will share more in the coming weeks. Sign up here to learn more and receive updates on the campaign!

 

 

UNFI Climate Action Hub

Also announced at Expo West, United Natural Foods Inc (UNFI) in partnership with the Climate Collaborative, unveiled a new project to scale climate action across their entire supply chain. UNFI has committed to setting science-based emissions reduction targets and needs ambitious climate action partners, like your company. If you sell through UNFI, stay tuned by signing up here to learn more and be the first to hear updates and announcements!

 

 

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Launch of our new Regenerative Ag Spotlights!

Last November, we put out a call to our committed companies asking them to share learnings from their work integrating regenerative agricultural practices into their supply chain. Their work is now compiled and ready to share with you in the Resources section of our website. Learn about the many ways your peers are adopting regen ag practices here!

 

IN THE NEWS

Conservative International Energy Association (IEA) concludes that to have any chance of hitting net zero emission by 2050 we must stop approving any new oil and gas fields and coal mines immediately. 

As EPA phases out climate-damaging commercial refrigerants, supermarkets will need to overhaul their entire refrigeration systems

The new dynamic duo: Pricing and food waste

INDUSTRY IN ACTION

 

UNFI Adopts Emerging Transportation Technology to Reduce Emissions

This LA Company Wants To Be The First Climate Positive Grocer

BriarPatch addresses climate change with sustainability goals

The 2021 GreenBiz 30 Under 30: Congratulations to Stacia Betley, Sustainability Integration Manager, Amy's Kitchen

Share your good news with us! In this new section of our newsletter, we want to share out climate-related progress, announcements and good news from our community in action. Send us an email at [email protected] to contribute to next month's section.

SPOTLIGHT: Building Regenerative Supply Chains with Imlak'esh Organics - A Journey to the Source

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Our 2020 National Co+op Grocers Climate Collaborative Awards looked a bit different last year as we pivoted to a virtual celebration. We're continuing the celebration by profiling our 2020 winners. 

Our fourth interview is with Philip Matthew and Tucker Garrison, Co-Founders at Imlak'esh Organics, winner of the 2020 Outstanding Value Chain Engagement Award. Read their profile or watch a short video here to learn about their past year in climate action!

SNAPSHOT


Welcome to the newest companies making commitments, Olita Inc. and ROAR Beverages! Click here for a complete list of the companies that have made commitments to date.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Partner Event: VERGE Electrify

May 25 & 26, 2021

VERGE Electrify focuses on how markets, technology, and policy must work together to electrify transportation, buildings, and industry-- all while cleaning and fortifying the grid. Join more than 5,000 leaders from the private and public sectors, utilities, solution providers, investors, and startups working to achieve rapid and widespread electrification. Learn more and register here!


SHARE YOUR STORY

Have you had any climate impact successes you think we should know about? Send them our way and we’ll make sure that your lessons learned benefit the whole community. 

Send us any blog or social media posts your company publishes about your experience reducing your impact on the climate and we’ll spread the word!

Twitter: @climatecoll     Instagram: @theclimatecollaborative    Facebook: /climatecollab

COMMIT TO CLIMATE ACTION

If you haven't already made a commitment to Climate Action please visit the Climate Collaborative website and check out the nine areas in which your company can make a commitment to bold climate action.

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