The Greenest Grocery Stores In America

For many, green grocery shopping is synonymous with Whole Foods. It's the United States' largest organic and natural food chain, and has even extended beyond national borders into the U.K. and Canada. The chain whose name evokes high-quality produce prioritizes local products, while also integrating harder to come by natural products. What's more is that Whole Foods places emphasis on food waste redistribution, and hasn't sold plastic bags since 2008 (via Waste Today Magazine and the New York Times). Sounds like a green paradise, right? There are certainly more than a few reasons why Whole Foods has solidified such a presence both in day-to-day shopping and even pop culture.

This giant of good foods isn't without its faults and stumbles. In 2016, there was a viral Twitter backlash to the store's $5.99 peeled and pre-packaged oranges which were criticized as hypocritical and wasteful (via CBS News). That isn't to say the reviews were completely negative, some of those with chronic illness argued that the option to have a peeled orange would make the snack more accessible. While ultimately sparking a discussion, Whole Foods pulled the oranges, though it still offers other prepackaged fruits. Another thing to bear in mind is that while Whole Foods' brand is still very much eco-oriented, it was acquired by Amazon in 2017. For some, that may be hard to reconcile with the grocer's once hallmark greenness.

Another heavy hitter of the mainstream organic grocery, Trader Joe's is beyond well-known: from memes of flirty and cute cashiers and even Trader Joe's influencers, this grocery has been described by Store Brands as the darling of popular culture. It's not hard to understand why, Trader Joe's has a comfortable and laid-back, if not slightly nautical vibe. The Atlantic best described the grocery store in 2012, as something that isn't necessarily supposed to be an organic market, but a grocery store that offers a luxury shopping experience well below Whole Food's major price point. The magazine even went so far as to say that a neighborhood Trader Joe's was a sign for many of being in a "cultured" space.

But there's a lot more to shopping at Trader Joe's. Though a lot of its products are organic and non-GMO, this doesn't necessarily make Trader Joe's green per se. Sure, there are some conscientious aspects to the store: it carries many Fair Trade Certified Products and even donates a considerable amount of would-be food waste to food banks (via Greenstar Project). On the other hand, as noted by the same project, Trader Joe's produces a lot of plastic waste, does not commit to a fully organic store, much less regional products, and carries many ethically questionable goods. There is a sign that these critiques are not falling on deaf ears, as Trader Joe's has committed to taking on change, like incorporating plastic-free wrapping (via The Kitchn). 

Another German import, Lidl earns similar brownie points to Aldi. It may even just be a dark horse in the running for greenest grocery store. Though Lidl is prevalent in Europe, it's just starting to gain footing in the States. Food Business News even points out that the grocer's initial launch in 2017 was plagued with a few missteps, like poor location and price selection. After a few tweaks, the chain still has lots of opportunities to hit its stride. Despite just beginning to expand across the East Coast, Lidl has already earned a Retail Sustainability Award (via Produce Business).

Lidl is also known for being a discount grocer that focuses on meeting its customers with extremely low prices. But, what might just be the store's biggest saving grace is its listening capability, as summarized by the previously mentioned Produce Business profile. For one, the grocer took a proactive leap ahead of food waste and created a Too Good to Waste section, where buyers can buy slightly damaged produce at a large discount. This is not only a very visual display of the chain's commitment to using every last drop so to speak, but it could also cut down on food waste before the food is in peril of being thrown away. Lidl has worked on completing several environmental and sustainable certifications, including the Rainbow Alliance Certification which seeks to source chocolate, and coconut oil, among other products ethically. After smoothing out the first bumps, it seems like Lidl is just taking off.

California is known for being very health-oriented, so it comes as a no surprise that there is another California-based grocer that ranks among the greenest grocery stores. Garnering so much as a New York Times feature and going viral on Tiktok, it makes sense to pop the trunk and see what's going on with Erewhon Market. It's strange to see that a simple grocery store has earned so much attention and become simultaneously a way for some to earn internet clout. But, if it's going to happen, it's going to happen in the City of Angels! 

Ironically enough, this typical L.A. market started off in Boston in the '60s and followed the original owners to their relocation out west (via Modern Retail). Under new management for a few decades, Erewhon Market has blossomed under the zeitgeist of wellbeing and health. But, as exemplified by Trader Joe's, it doesn't do well enough to simply appear one way. The question remains, is Erewhon Market actually sustainable? 

According to a 2021 article from the Progressive Grocer, Erewhon Market is a certified B Corps, short for B Corporation. This certification means that the market exercises high environmental and social standards, but there is also a high level of transparency and accountability in the way it conducts its business. It seems for the most part, Erewhon Market hits a certain level of sustainability, but those out West should beware of the high price tag associated with the market, and most likely, its visibility.

Similar to HEB, the Midwest Hy-Vee is employee-owned, though by direct stockholders which usually means higher-ups exclusively, and gravitates towards local sourcing. As of late, Hy-Vee has ramped up sustainability efforts, though as Progressive Grocer notes, this is less of a political or philosophical position than a survival strategy for grocers nowadays. Maybe it is when thinking of the future, in this sense that the ends justify the means, or better said, motive. Nonetheless, in 2021 the regional grocery store has come to meet sustainable efforts where it can. 

In the last year alone, Hy-Vee has joined the Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag, adopted a seafood code of conduct that is in alignment with the U.N. Global Compact, and reimagined storefronts that use a multi-pronged approach to achieve sustainability (via Progressive Grocer, and The Packer). These new chic and on-trend storefronts should, as described by The Packer, put emphasis on fresh and organic produce while appearing sleek and on-trend. Less glamorously, though very important, Hy-Vee seeks to cut down on its overall electricity use and seeks to cut down food waste as drastically as it has energy-use, as outlined by the Progressive Grocer.

As time passes and the chain grows, it is trying to meet sustainability where it can. As Hy-Vee expands beyond the Midwest and into other regions though, it may be harder to manage its environmental footprint. Hopefully, it keeps up the good work and keeps pushing onwards.

There is something to be said about meeting needs right where they are. Community shared agriculture, often shortened to CSA, are where farmers offer shares of their harvest to clients. This share is usually delivered in a box loaded up with vegetables, fruits, and sometimes other goodies like bread and cheeses among other treats (via Local Harvest). For a monthly (or weekly or annual) subscription, buyers receive a box delivered or picked up on a timely schedule. It functions a lot like any other subscription box. Community shared agriculture has the benefit that it allows for farmers to receive money for their goods without having to go through a middleman, i.e., grocer. This also allows consumers to build relationships with local farms, that may or not be organic depending on preference, and reduce their food's footprint. 

Though farms typically deliver just about everywhere, there is a notorious phenomenon of American food deserts that plague many cities.  Partially to combat this and partially through their own long history, community gardens in urban spaces have found new growth to meet these nourishment needs. It's a bonus that most community gardens don't require as pricey a membership as CSAs. Though largely dependent on regional growing seasons and patterns, community gardens provide a place for locals to purchase and/or participate directly (via Greenleaf Communities). Whatever the way, it is possible to find the greenest option even without a green thumb.