Sustainability at Mana… What we do now and how we’re pushing forward by reducing paper bag use.
Here at Mana, we are committed to sustainability. We understand the importance of taking care of the ‘āina (land), especially as resources and landfill space are limited on our beautiful island. To further reduce landfill contributions and encourage the use of reusable bags, we will begin charging $0.10 per paper bag and continue to offer our $0.05 credit for reusing bags.
Although paper bags seem environmentally friendly, they are nowhere near as environmentally friendly as reusable bags. According to simpleecology.com, 14 million trees are cut each year to produce the paper bags used by Americans. Furthermore, the chemicals used to produce these bags are toxic, and they take a considerable amount of energy and water to produce. If we can get everyone on board to bring reusable bags, we estimate that we can help save approximately 500 trees per year!
Aside from our new initiative, Mana continues to commit to protecting the environment by practicing sustainability within the store, encouraging sustainable habits, and supporting sustainable organizations:
In-Store Sustainability
Here’s just a few things we do at Mana to stay green:
Zero Waste in Produce: We strive to have zero waste from out produce department going into our landfills. We break down and recycle all boxes that produce is delivered in. Any produce items with dents and scratches are reduced in price. Produce that is unsuitable for use is composted and used by local farmers. See more: https://manafoodsmaui.com/news/2018/8/12/behind-the-scenes-of-manas-zero-waste-efforts
Energy Efficiency: In order to reduce the amount of energy used at Mana, we have installed a solar energy system, LED lights throughout the store, as well as energy efficient coolers and freezers. By doing this we have cut the store’s energy consumption in half.
In Store Packaging: Our meat products and wraps are packaged using compostable, gluten free trays made from wheat stalks. We offer biodegradable plastic wear and to go containers for the deli and salad bar that are made from corn.
Freight Consolidation: We work hard with our vendors to ensure freight is consolidated to minimize our carbon footprint when products are transported from the mainland.
Buying Local: We support more than 350 local vendors.
We recycle packing materials: We save all packing peanuts/materials we receive from our shipments and give them to our artist community to use to ship their products.
Promoting Sustainable Habits
Sustainability starts with individuals making conscious decisions to reduce, reuse and recycle. We like to make it as easy as possible for our customers to feel good about the choices they make and the impact they have on the environment. That’s why we offer the following products:
Reef Safe Sunscreen: We have been selling only reef-safe sun lotion since 2016.
Reusable Water Bottles and Affordable Water Refills: We offer a variety of reusable water containers. From glass to insulated stainless steel we have the reusable bottle to meet everyone’s needs. On top of that, you can refill any size bottle under 1 gallon for only $0.15.
Sustainability Products: We sell a plethora of sustainable house-ware products, such as reusable beeswax food wraps, stainless steel straws, bamboo utensils, etc. We also carry reusable shopping bags and bags for bulk and produce, compostable feminine products and diapers, as well as offering bulk body care.
New product selection: We are discerning when deciding what new products we bring into the store, and choose ones in more sustainable packaging when possible.
Supporting Sustainable Organizations
We help to support local organizations through our bag credit program. When you bring a reusable bag to Mana, we give you the option to credit the $0.05 per bag towards your bill, or to donate it to the local organization we have chosen for the month. We often donate to local schools, community projects, and sustainability organizations such as the Conservation Council for Hawaii and Malama Maui Nui.
