Last month, Program Manager Peter Cooke was named Manomet’s 2013 Joan Benson Baker Fellow in recognition of his work developing the Grocery Sustainability Certification Program.

 

Joan Baker was a dedicated conservationist and a Manomet trustee from 1994 to 2000. She passed away in 2000 and a significant portion of the Manomet endowment was given in her honor. 

 

The Grocery Sustainability Certification Program has been implemented in 93 of Hannaford Supermarket’s 181 New England stores. Cooke is now working to take the program to new regions and supermarket chains. Earlier this month, he was the keynote speaker at the Rhode Island Food Dealer’s Association Trade Day event.

 

The Grocery Sustainability Certification Program focuses on measuring sustainability metrics within a store and tracking tangible improvements and cost savings.

 

According to Cooke, 15 stores (about the size of a district for a large retailer) can save 5.9 million gallons of water each year by following the program’s guidelines. Stores taking part in the program could also avoid 105 million pounds of annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions, equivalent to taking 9,402 cars off the road.

 

After adding up increased efficiencies and savings, a 15 store district can save about $785,000 (or $52,000 per store) each year by taking part in the program, Cooke said.

 

– Manomet Staff