Our Purpose: To Protect and Restore the Environment

See how much waste you helped us divert  from the landfill in 2023!

Tons of Commingled Recycling

Tons of compost

Tons of plastic

Tons of shoes

Tons of Old Corrugated Containers

Tons of denim

Tons of Cork

Tons of Batteries

Tons of Cell phones

Tons of holiday lights

pairs of eyeglasses

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

Car Charging Stations

  • We believe that electric and hybrid vehicles are a great opportunity to reduce global warming emissions. We host free & fast car charging stations at Frederick, Woodbridge, and Abington as well as free Level II car charging stations at all other locations (except Bowie). We also provide access to workplace charging at our Central Office.
  • We’re a proud member of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Workplace Charging Challenge.

Reducing Reliance on Plastic

  • In 2005, MOM’s eliminated plastic bags! We use compostable bags in our produce section and paper bags at checkout.
  • In 2008, we introduced a $.10 bag credit for customers who use reusable bags.
  • In 2010, we launched Plastic Surgery, a comprehensive storewide effort to eliminate unnecessary plastic waste. The first (and most important) step was to ban bottled still water, replacing it with water machines and reusable water containers.
  • In 2020, MOM’s customers prevented 2,658,418 bags from being used by bringing their own, at an average of 7,324per day!
  • All MOM’s stores* offer bulk options to reduce plastic waste, including dry goods, grind your own nut butter, liquid cleaning supplies, self-serve tofu, beer & kombucha, sustainable protein, honey, olive oil, and vinegar.

*Bulk options vary by store

Conserving Energy

  • We use ultra-low watt LED overhead, track, refrigerated, case, and exit lights. LED parking lot lights are used in some stores.
  • Motion sensor lights with dimming controls in our offices and restrooms help reduce consumption.
  • We utilize adjustable AC units.
  • MOM’s has a no open door policy, never allowing cooler doors to be propped open.
  • We power down all unnecessary lights and equipment when not in use and install skylights where permitted.

Construction, Facilities & Store Features

  • We use zero-VOC paints and sustainable building materials, such as Flat Grain Bamboo and Maple Veneer Plywood that contain no added formaldehyde to build our customer service desks, bread counters, and shelving.
  • Polished concrete floors in our stores reduce the need for special floor services and unnecessary materials.
  • Many of our refrigeration systems have Electronically Communicated Motors, which use 60% less electricity than the industry standard motor. They’re equipped with state-of-the-art regulation and leak detection systems, so leaks are immediately detected and fixed.
  • We use heat recovery from our refrigeration systems, where the heat for hot water is recycled from the refrigeration system.
  • Our Arlington and Gaithersburg stores have Green Roofs, which assist with stormwater management, air purification, life-extension for roofing membranes, reduction in the amount of energy needed to moderate the building’s temperature, ambient temperature reduction, and increased biodiversity.
  • Beginning with the Alexandria store’s 2017 renovation, we’ve begun utilizing UltraTouch™ Denim Insulation. This insulation is made from denim scraps & clippings, some of which come from our Annual Denim Recycling Drive. This material helps divert waste from landfills and decreases the need for additional denim manufacturing and its related GHG emissions.
Solar Panels

Solar Power at MOM’s

  • In 2016, MOM’s 1.5-megawatt off-site solar project in Kingsville, MD went live. Check out how much power MOM’s Solar Farm generates. This solar farm accounts for ~25% of the total power needs of our 21 stores.
  • In 2017, our White Marsh store’s rooftop solar panels went live, generating ~30% of the store’s energy usage. Track our daily output here!
  • In 2020, our 265-kilowatt solar rooftop at College Park MOM’s went live and will cover 45% of the store’s energy needs.
  • In 2021, MOM’s began sponsoring a local community solar project in Yonkers, NY. 40% of the power generated will go to MOM’s Dobbs Ferry!
  • In 2021, we installed a 265-kilowatt system rooftop solar array at MOM’s Abington! This project will generate approximately 40% of the store’s energy needs.
  • In 2021, MOM’s sponsored a local community solar project in Cherry Hill, NJ!

Wind Power at MOM’s

MOM’s supports renewable energy projects by purchasing Wind Power Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to offset ~75% of our company’s electrical usage (the rest is generated through MOM’s solar projects).

    Wind Power at MOM’s

    MOM’s supports renewable energy projects by purchasing Wind Power Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to offset ~75% of our company’s electrical usage (the rest is generated through MOM’s solar projects). In 2020, MOM’s purchased 8,600 Wind RECs. The benefit of MOM’s purchasing wind power is equivalent to offsetting the greenhouse gas emissions from…

    • 2,127 passenger vehicles driven for one year
    • 3,495 tons of waste sent to the landfill
    • 1,200 homes’ electricity use for one year
    • 10,952,938 pounds of coal burned