Wild Oats Markets (NASDAQ:OATS)
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From Jun 2019 to Jun 2024
Every year, millions of Americans make New Year's resolutions to make
positive changes in their lives. This Earth Day, Wild Oats Markets,
Inc., a leading national natural and organic foods retailer, is
encouraging consumers to make environmentally friendly green shopping
resolutions to celebrate Earth Day 2007. By making small changes in
shopping habits, consumers can make trips to the grocery store more
environmentally friendly, ultimately protecting the health of the planet
for future generations. In honor of Earth Month, Wild Oats is offering
tips on how to shop green on Earth Day and every day including reusing
and recycling more, buying organic, cleaning with environmentally
friendly products, buying in bulk and more.
One way to significantly reduce the amount of waste in the environment
is to reuse and recycle shopping bags. Each year, U.S. consumers
throw away approximately 100 billion plastic shopping bags, which can
take up to 1,000 years to decompose, and litter the planet and threaten
wildlife. A quick solution is to not only reuse shopping bags, but to
switch to reusable, sturdy canvas bags. In New York City alone, one less
grocery bag per person per year would reduce waste by five million
pounds and save $250,000 in disposal costs, according to the
Environmental Protection Agency. Wild Oats encourages customers to reuse
shopping bags – plastic, paper or canvas –
and pioneered the Wooden Nickel Program where five cents per reused bag
is donated to local non-profit organizations.
Choosing organic products is another easy way for people to
decrease their negative impact on the environment. Organic agriculture
protects people and the planet by reducing exposure to harmful chemicals
from synthetic pesticides that can contaminate the ground, air and
water, as well as our food. According to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, each year an estimated 60 million pounds of
organophosphate pesticides are applied to about 60 million acres of
agricultural crops in the U.S. Organophosphate pesticides are harmful
and not allowed in organic agriculture. When buying certified organic
products, consumers are showing support for organic farmers and
sustainable practices that help build healthy soil and a healthier
planet.
Consumers should look for products that have reduced packaging or no
packaging, such as foods from the bulk foods aisles. Buying foods
like lentils, beans, grains, nuts and granola in bulk equates to reduced
costs for packaging and the environment. At Wild Oats, the extensive
bulk department is over 70 percent organic, making buying in bulk –
and buying organic – an affordable and
eco-friendly option.
“Every day is Earth Day at Wild Oats. From the
beginning, Wild Oats has been committed to preserving our planet and
reducing our negative impact on the environment,”
said Greg Mays, CEO of Wild Oats Markets. “We’re
proud to celebrate Earth Day and highlight our dedication to organics,
the environment and sustainable practices.”
Buying local products is another way to shop green and support
the local economy. The average meal travels more than 1,500 miles from
farm to plate. Choosing local products reduces transportation costs and
the reliance on fossil fuels. Every Wild Oats Marketplace sources
hundreds of foods and artisan products from local growers and producers.
Collectively, Wild Oats buys more than 7,200 locally produced food items
from approximately 3,500 farmers and artisans based in all 50 states.
In honor of Earth Month, Wild Oats is also encouraging consumers to clean
green this spring. Americans generate 1.6 million tons of waste each
year from common household products that contain potentially hazardous
ingredients. And, of the 85,000 chemicals used in household cleaners
today, nearly 90% haven’t been tested for
safety. Every time a cleaning product is used, it is absorbed into the
skin, breathed into the lungs and released into the environment. By
switching to green, environmentally friendly cleaners, consumers make
healthier choices for their homes and the planet. Wild Oats offers a
wide range of non-toxic cleaning products made with biodegradable
ingredients and without the use of hazardous chemicals.
Wild Oats is committed to providing consumers with products and
education that support not only a healthy body, but also a healthy
environment. This April, Wild Oats Markets is posting shelf-talkers in
all stores to help customers identify eco-friendly items and educate
them on making environmentally conscious changes today for a better
tomorrow.
Making simple shopping choices like walking or biking to the grocery
store, choosing organics, switching to green cleaners and reusing
and recycling can turn every day into Earth Day. Wild Oats Markets has a
long-standing commitment to preserving the planet through a dedication
to organics, the environment and sustainable practices and products.
Shop green this spring with Wild Oats Markets and help protect Mother
Earth.
About Wild Oats
Wild Oats Markets, Inc. is a nationwide chain of natural and organic
foods markets in the U.S. and Canada. The Company operates 110 natural
foods stores in 24 states and British Columbia, Canada. The Company’s
markets include Wild Oats Marketplace, Henry’s
Farmers Market, Sun Harvest and Capers Community Markets. For more
information, please visit the Company’s
website at www.wildoats.com.