BeeBAGZ are a reusable, 100% plastic free, biodegradable, food storage baggie. This innovative product is the first food storage bag of its kind; self-sealing, water resistant and reusable. Although there are beeswax wraps on the market, they do not have the same functionality as the bags. Made from 100% cotton, beeswax, tree resin and jojoba oil, BeeBAGZ are an environmentally friendly product that is designed for repeat use; with proper care each bag can last a year or longer. As consumers continue to be educated on the detriment of plastic to the environment and their own health, the demand for food storage alternatives continues to rise.

Currently each bag is finished by hand. Enviroluv, the maker of BeeBAGZ, is working with innovators at a local college to develop equipment to automate the production process. This approach to sustainable growth will lead to greater scalability through larger product material purchases and more efficient production runs. It is gratifying to see customers integrate this product into their routines.

At Community Natural Foods, the team believes in the wisdom of Mother Nature to heal and desires to operate with environmental sustainability prioritized. From waste reduction and energy efficient equipment to being the first to stop using plastic bags, they’re constantly looking at how to best protect our planet. Since eliminating plastic bags, Community has offered customers the opportunity to donate their 5 cent bag credit to a local charity.Their Change the Earth program has supported over 177 local charities with Community matching all donations.

Community’s current sustainability initiatives include food waste diversion through discounting, repurposing, donating and composting. Recycling of plastics, cardboard, paper, glass, tin and beverage containers takes place at head office and each store, plus there is a cell phone/PDA recycle box at each of store.Working with local farmers and producers whenever possible to strengthen the local economy, Community has been able to reduce the footprint of the products they carry.

Community was Calgary's first retail store to go single-use plastic water bottle free and offers alternatives from home filtration to stainless steel water bottles with filtration on them.They use both solar powered and reclaimed refrigeration heat where possible as well as led lighting and low-energy consumption lighting.All the water is sprinkled on their produce and used to wash produce and cook the food in their cafes and commissary is put through the reverse osmosis system and Community has almost reached their objective to be 100% toxin and environmentally damaging product-free by eliminating toxic cleaning products.

The list goes on – re-use of building supplies during construction, second-hand purchasing, load shedding, preventative maintenance, and most importantly they’re committed to continually monitoring ongoing practices, and make recommendations to update, improve and build consistency at each location.