Our Purpose is to protect and restore the environment. 

Here’s what you’ve helped us accomplish:

we donated to environmental, educational, and social justice groups that align with Our Purpose. Our partners are experts in the challenges we face and are committed to protecting our planet!

5% Donation Day

On April 6th, MOM’s donated 5% of our storewide sales to groups dedicated to protecting our local watersheds. Partners tabled to share information with our customers, and commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act!

Groups that received 5% of our sales:

 

5% Donation Day

On April 6th, MOM’s donated 5% of our storewide sales to groups dedicated to protecting our local watersheds. Partners tabled to share information with our customers, and commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act!

Groups that received 5% of our sales:

 

worth of food waste to local food banks

Our local food bank program donates unsold food to over 60 local food banks, soup kitchens, and churches, benefiting our communities and reducing food waste.

TOP FOOD DONATION RECIPIENTS:

  • Celestial Manna
  • Baltimore Gift Economy
  • Compassion Center
  • Manna House Inc.
  • Arlington Food Assistance Center
  • Nourish Now
  • Saints Philip and James Catholic Parish
  • Fiorenza’s Food for Friends
  • Campus Kitchen DC (National U)
  • Food Not Bombs
A ban on PFAS in pesticides, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), land and water conservation, plastic pollution and single-use bans, waste reduction (electronics, compost, etc.), Bottle Bills a.k.a. recycling. These are just a few initiatives we proudly supported in 2022!
The RGGI is a cooperative market-based initiative among states in the Northeast to cap and reduce CO2 emissions from the power sector.
Establishes post-consumer recycled content requirements for rigid plastic containers, glass containers, paper and plastic carryout bags, and plastic trash bags; prohibits the sale of polystyrene loose-fill packaging.
Establishes the extended producer responsibility act requiring covered materials and product producers to develop and implement strategies to promote recycling, reuse, and recovery of packaging and paper products.

Community Supported Agriculture

We partnered with eight small and local organic farms and farmers.

Local organic farmers are doing important work to protect and restore the environment and we want to support them. Not all local farms are large enough to sell their produce at MOM’s, so instead, we offer their CSA shares for pickup at MOM’s stores.

Community Supported Agriculture

We partnered with eight small and local organic farms and farmers.

Local organic farmers are doing important work to protect and restore the environment and we want to support them. Not all local farms are large enough to sell their produce at MOM’s, so instead, we offer their CSA shares for pickup at MOM’s stores.

MOM’s takes the 3 R’s- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle- very seriously! That’s why we have a bulk section so you can bring your own container to reduce plastic waste, encourage bag reuse, and have an extensive recycle center.

See how much waste you helped us divert  from the landfill!

Tons of Batteries

Tons of shoes

Tons of Commingled Recycling

Tons of denim

units of Cell phones and Tablets

Oyster Shells

Tons of Holiday Lights

To reduce waste, we encourage our customers to bring their own bags to shop!

total disposable bags that MOM’s
customers helped us avoid!

MOM’s has been powered by 100% renewable energy since 2005!

And that’s not all we do! We have rooftop solar at MOM’s College Park, Waldorf, White Marsh, and Abington along with a solar canopy at our EV charging stations at MOM’s College Park. Our 1.5-megawatt solar farm in Kingsville, MD generated 2,009 MWh this year, helping to power our stores and offset our energy usage.

Additionally, you can find FREE Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations at most of our locations.

Saving Gas & Fighting Climate Change

MOM’s Team Members inflated over 660 tires in the winter, helping to avoid GHG emissions and making your drive more safe and efficient during our annual We Care About Air campaign!

100% organic produce

Since 1987, we have supplied our communities with 100% organic produce. Organic farming has a long list of benefits for the environment, such as reducing the use of pesticides, the pollution of soil and waterways, soil erosion, and energy use.

Equal Exchange Avocados:

MOM’s customers purchased 516,048 organic Equal Exchange avocados- resulting in $650,436 paid to 75 small-scale farmer co-ops in Michoacán, Mexico, and an additional $12,084 paid into funds for:

  • Assistance with farmer-member medical bills
  • Collaborative reforestation projects
  • Solar panel installation on local childcare facilities

Equal Exchange Bananas:

In 2022, MOM’s customers purchased 3,390,960 organic Equal Exchange bananas- resulting in $554,672.95 paid to 873 small-scale co-op farmers and an additional $42,387 paid into funds for:

  • Healthcare for farmers and workers
  • Leadership development within the co-op structure
  • Production of organic fertilizer and banana packing infrastructure

Equal Exchange Bananas:

In 2022, MOM’s customers purchased 3,390,960 organic Equal Exchange bananas- resulting in $554,672.95 paid to 873 small-scale co-op farmers and an additional $42,387 paid into funds for:

  • Healthcare for farmers and workers
  • Leadership development within the co-op structure
  • Production of organic fertilizer and banana packing infrastructure

Banned ingredient list

We’ve banned over 250 ingredients from our stores, including bleaching agents, synthetic food preservatives, and parabens, which are not only harmful to our health, but also to the health of waterways, soil, and wildlife. Check out our banned ingredient list to learn more!

Sustainable Seafood

Did you know that MOM’s is the only grocery store in the US that offers 100% sustainable seafood? We follow the recommendations of the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program and only offer their Green Best-Choice, Yellow Good Alternative, or Eco-Certified seafood.

We’re all in this together. Here’s how our vendors are helping us fulfill Our Purpose to protect and restore the environment.

MOM’s Gaithersburg team

The Gaithersburg Team Members teamed up with six local partners or farmers in 2022, volunteering to help plant crops, create meditation gardens, river and trail clean-ups, and so much more! Featured here is the team at KPC Peace Park (Poolesville, MD) clearing trees and weeds in the middle of trails, and constructing stone sculptures at the meditation garden to help promote a practice of patience and balance.

MOM’s Gaithersburg team

The Gaithersburg Team Members teamed up with six local partners or farmers in 2022, volunteering to help plant crops, create meditation gardens, river and trail clean-ups, and so much more! Featured here is the team at KPC Peace Park (Poolesville, MD) clearing trees and weeds in the middle of trails, and constructing stone sculptures at the meditation garden to help promote a practice of patience and balance.

MOM’s Merrifield team

The Merrifield Team Members dedicated their efforts to cleaning and maintaining the trails of Mason Neck State Park, and community clean-ups with invasive plant removals in Northern Virginia. Featured here is the team kayaking down Belmont Bay (Mason Neck State Park) to the first trash pick-up site and celebrating the accomplishment of trying something new and  learning how to kayak.

MOM’s Alexandria team

The Alexandria Team Members helped out Potomac Riverkeeper’s water testing each week May-September, in addition to Four Mile Run Kayak Clean-ups! Featured here is the team after completing a Kayak Clean-up with the Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation.

MOM’s Alexandria team

The Alexandria Team Members helped out Potomac Riverkeeper’s water testing each week May-September, in addition to Four Mile Run Kayak Clean-ups! Featured here is the team after completing a Kayak Clean-up with the Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation.

Environmental Restoration Trainings

MOM’s Team Members completed 1,551 ER Trainings! Many of these trainings are for learning about our non-profit partners, what environmental restoration programs we have at MOM’s, as well as the ins and outs of recycling and composting.

Green Benefits

We do benefits a little differently! MOM’s offers a set of environmentally friendly benefits called “Green Benefits”, which include contributions toward the purchase of green services and appliances.

Check out our Green Benefits:

  • Electric or hybrid vehicle subsidy
  • Discounted All Birds shoes
  • Home composters
  • Naturepedic Organic Mattress
  • Paid volunteering
Thank you for helping us fulfill our Purpose! We believe MOM’s can have the greatest environmental impact by partnering with organizations that share our worldview and bring their unique expertise and focus to the table. We are excited to share what we’ve done in 2022, and even more excited about what will continue in 2023!