Carbon Offsets

We still are in the process of identifying ways by which to offset the carbon emissions associated with our business.

Of course, our main goal is to ensure that your food remains cool throughout the delivery process. From an environmental standpoint, we are working to improve continuously. If you have viable suggestions for improving the environmental impacts of our delivery methods, please contact us!

Environment

We care about the environment

The Hungry Vegan loves the environment and wants to conduct its business in as green a fashion as possible. We recognize that this is challenging but are doing what we can.

To be more environmentally friendly, we use the following:

Organic, all-natural ingredients - all the way down to the spices that we use
Used boxes or reusable/recyclable bags for our grocery shopping
Reused/recycled-content delivery boxes when possible
Reusable gel or ice packs
Recycled aluminum foil
Unbleached parchment paper

We recycle our produce boxes and compost our fruit and vegetable peels and donate much of our extra food. We work to conserve energy and keep the workplace healthy, using all natural, cruelty-free cleaning products.

Food suppliers

Most of our produce is purchased from a national organic supplier. However, we also buy some of our ingredients from a regional grower when they have what we need. We also try to support local and regional farmers' markets, tailgate markets, CSAs, and so forth.

When we're not shopping, doing food prep, or cooking in the commercial kitchen, we use our home offices because we believe in telecommuting as a means to reduce our environmental harm.

Packaging the food

We have experimented with various methods of food packaging. We have tried biodegradable corn containers (some broke or leaked during shipping), reusable baggies, and non-reusable, non-resealable vacuum-sealed packages. Although the vacuum-sealed packages were popular for keeping the food fresher longer, some burst during transit. Thus, we have switched to sturdy, reusable polypropylene (#5 plastic) containers. Thus far, these are the only containers that we have found that are leak-proof and can be frozen and microwaved. However, we will continue to search for greener packaging with these qualities.

Delivering your food

We are experimenting to find the most effective methods for delivering your food. Initially, we avoided using styrofoam coolers because they are not environmentally preferable. After several weeks of testing, however, we found them to be the most effective means of ensuring that your food remains cold. Fortunately, several customers have written to offer suggestions for reusing the styrofoam containers and gel packs. Please see below for more information.

Donating or recycling your styrofoam coolers and gel packs

There are several options for ensuring that your styrofoam coolers and gel packs don't go to waste after one use. They include:

1. Donate to local schoolteachers for field trips.

2. Donate to local animal shelters.

3. Donate to local U-Haul or other moving companies.

4. Donate through your local Freecycle group.

5. Donate to your local Scout/Campfire troop or outdoor groups.

6. Cut two holes in the styrofoam coolers (a few inches above the base) and place them outdoors as winter shelters for feral cats.

7. Break down the styrofoam cooler inside your box and ship to the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers at

Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers
1298 Cronson Blvd., Suite 201
Crofton, MD 21114

The Alliance will recycle both the styrofoam and the box. Thus, if you have received a few shipments from us and don't know what to do with the foam, you could break it all down and put it into one box. Please visit the Alliance's web site for more information:

http://www.epspackaging.org/info.html

FedEx Ground shipping would be the least expensive option and should be fairly inexpensive given the very light weight of styrofoam. To schedule a FedEx pickup (one day in advance for FedEx Ground), call 1-800-GO-FEDEX.

8. Return them to The Hungry Vegan for reuse.

We'll gladly reuse your boxes and clean and reuse gel packs. Feel free to return them to

The Hungry Vegan
P.O. Box 725
Black Mountain, NC 28711