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food organic natural sustainable agriculture groceries




  • Whole Foods is one of the biggest greenwashers in the world

  • Whole Foods has appropriated the green/organic food store image because it was the smart thing to do - they saw the niche as ripe for the taking. Their marketing decision does NOT mean they are practicing what they're selling. It was less than two years ago they initiated a huge anti-plastic bags campaign, serving the public misleading and unsubstantiated claims on the benefits of recycled paper bags, and positioning themselves as greener for not using plastic. The fact is, Whole Foods was collaborating with Duro [Paper] Bag Manufacturing Co., the largest paper bag producer in the US, and embellishing the benefits of paper to boost their green image. Both paper AND plastic are bad for the environment! Second, Whole Foods refuses to disclose their carbon footprint. Their trucks are powered by diesel fuel. Third, only 1/3 of their foods are 'organic' - the rest are 'natural' - a greenwashing phrase that doesn't hold any water because there are no standards for 'natural' foods. They use pesticides and genetic modification just like the food you'd find at a regular supermarket.
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  • response to greenwashing

  • They may not report their total carbon footprint, but they purchase wind energy credits for 100% of their electricity usage. And for the past four years, they have continued to use wind power for all their electric needs. They are now the third biggest purchaser of renewable energy usage in the corporate world (after Intel and Kohl's).
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