Food Lover’s Market’s Sustainable Transport and Packaging
At Food Lover’s Market, we are constantly striving to reduce the environmental impact of our transport logistics and packaging. Through improved operational efficiencies, we have successfully reduced our carbon footprint in these areas.
Transport Efficiency
We have enhanced our delivery services. One significant step was centralising our logistics division, which granted us better control over all the trucks owned by Food Lover’s Market. This centralisation allowed for better planning and reduced the occurrence of empty legs, resulting in fewer kilometres driven, improved service delivery, and a remarkable 45% average reduction in diesel usage. Our fleet of 51 trucks is now dedicated to supporting operations at Food Lover’s Market, contributing to a more efficient and environmentally friendly transportation system.
War on Packaging
Since our inception in 1993, Food Lover’s Market has been at the forefront of promoting sustainable packaging practices. Our commitment to a package-free shopping experience reflects our dedication to environmental conservation. From gravity-fed systems for nuts, chocolates, and dried fruit to package-free options for fruit and vegetables, we offer a range of environmentally friendly alternatives. As a signatory to the SA Plastics Pact, we actively participate in initiatives aimed at creating a circular economy for plastic packaging.
Our efforts to reduce plastic usage have been evident in the remarkable growth of our paper bag offering since becoming the first retailer in South Africa to ban all plastic bags in our corporate stores in 2019. Through campaigns like ‘Get Drastic on Plastic’ and ‘Withdraw the Straw,’ we have successfully engaged our customers in supporting our initiatives to reduce single-use plastics.
Sustainable Shopping Trolleys
In line with our commitment to sustainability, Food Lover’s Market has introduced sustainable shopping trolleys manufactured from recycled milk bottles. Developed by Supercart, these trolleys represent a significant step in reducing plastic waste and addressing recycling challenges. By upcycling plastic waste into high-value products like shopping trolleys, we contribute to minimising our environmental footprint while providing durable and eco-friendly solutions for our customers. The use of recycled plastic milk bottles to manufacture these trolleys demonstrates our dedication to sustainability across all aspects of our business.
Bamboo in Store Design
In addition to sustainable packaging and transport, Food Lover’s Market is integrating bamboo into store design elements to further our commitment to environmental responsibility. Bamboo, with its rapid growth rate and exceptional CO2 absorption abilities, is an excellent renewable resource that reduces the demand for traditional timber, thus mitigating deforestation. From bespoke fridges to sushi counters and display units, we utilise bamboo in various interior and exterior parts of our stores, showcasing our dedication to sustainable practices throughout our operations.
Our Commitment to the Environment
Food Lover’s Market is committed to environmental responsibility across all facets of our business operations. From streamlining transport logistics to promoting sustainable packaging alternatives and utilising renewable materials in in-store design, we continuously strive to reduce our environmental footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future. Through ongoing innovation and collaboration, we remain steadfast in our commitment to environmental stewardship and look forward to further advancements in sustainability across our organisation.
