Green Initiatives

The future looks greener at WinCo Foods…

At WinCo Foods, we believe that being a responsible member of the community means managing our impact on the environment. Here are just a few of the ways we’re working to make our future greener:

At WinCo Foods we are…

Committed to make shopping a greener experience for you… You might have noticed we don’t put out a paper ad each week the way most area grocery stores do. Not only is this a green approach to doing business, it’s one of the ways we’re able to help you keep more green in your wallet.

Harnessing the power of natural lighting… The next time you shop at one of our newer WinCo locations, look up. Those skylights do more than add nice aesthetic, they also help us reduce the amount of energy used to light our stores. Throughout the day, our smart lighting system measures the amount of sunlight coming into the building and automatically turns off unnecessary lighting. Reducing the energy in our stores’ refrigerated and frozen areas… Did you know that refrigeration is one of the major contributors to the world’s energy consumption? That’s why we’re doing our part to cut back by implementing energy efficient refrigerated and frozen areas at our new stores. We also have plans to update our older stores with the same technology. The improved systems save substantial energy over traditional refrigeration systems.
Saving gas… Responsible fuel consumption matters to us. Our trucking fleet services stores in six states, which means that planning and proper maintenance are essential. We have a dedicated transportation team that carefully plans each trip for the best route and works to combine deliveries where possible. Meanwhile, our maintenance team makes sure each truck in the fleet is kept in top shape with state-of-the-art equipment to get the most out of every gallon of fuel. Implementing eco-friendly solutions… For instance, when we set out to light our 1 million square foot distribution center in Woodburn, Oregon, we took the green route. We chose a smart lighting system outfitted with motion sensors. The sensors work like helping hands, turning off individual lights where no activity is detected, both in warehouse and office areas.
Exploring solar power… At WinCo Foods, we’re constantly researching new technologies to help reduce our carbon footprint. Currently, we’re live testing six solar powered light poles in the parking lot of one of our Boise locations. The solar panels are built right into the fixture and collect the sun’s energy throughout the day and power the LEDs as needed by night. Even more exciting, any excess energy produced by the fixtures is used to reduce the amount of electricity used inside our store.

» Learn more about our solar light fixture initiative

 Opting for LED lighting wherever we can… LED lighting is a smarter, greener choice than traditional or fluorescent lighting for two reasons. First, LED light bulbs are more energy efficient and need replacing less frequently. Second, LED doesn’t contain mercury or emit UV light, which means it’s safer for the environment and our customers.