Member Spotlight
Philly Foodworks
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Philly Foodworks runs an online farmers market, sourcing high-quality local produce from over 150 local producers, and they deliver their products to your door or community pick-up location. They are closely aligned with CP’s circular values in their mission and operations. When you shop from companies like Philly Foodworks, you are helping our whole sustainable, local business ecosystem.
Why did you become a member?
We believe that establishing sustainable human ecosystems requires a collaborative approach to a radical shift in how we interact with one another. Existing linear structures of the flow of goods and capital are exploitative and will lead to collapse. In a more practical sense, the more our outputs can become our inputs the better our chances of survival. In order to achieve this as a larger community, we have to start working together.
What does a circular economy mean to your organization?
The “circular economy” is often boiled down into reusing materials. This is absolutely part of it, but I think it is much more complicated than this. We believe it is also about how we treat people, the planet, and animals. When we don’t take care of each other’s needs, we can’t support one another. When we don’t support one another, we can’t take care of ourselves. Realizing the interdependence we share with each other and our ecosystem is honoring a circular economy.
How is your organization practicing circularity?
Over 90 cents on every dollar spent with Philly Foodworks is spent within the local economy (150 miles of Philly). None of our food goes to into the trash. We partner with farmers to crop plan at the beginning of the season so they grow what we need. We’ve built efficient ordering systems to limit the amount of overage. Anything left over gets donated, and what can’t be consumed is sent back to our farmers to be turned into soil for more produce or feed for animals. We take packaging returns, including our wax boxes, insulated liners, ice packs, and clam shells. We pay a living wage (minimum starting is $15/hour, and we adjust everyone’s rate each year in accordance with COLA). Our delivery system is designed so we only go to specific neighborhoods on specific days, and we average 1 mile driven for every delivery. Our ownership is based locally, and we do not have any venture investors that are drawing capital out of our region.
How can others advance the circular economy?
Treat others (people, planet, animals) how you want to be treated!