DECA Corner
Commissaries
stocking more 'green clean' products
By Cherie
Huntington
FORT
LEE, Va. – Over the past year, the Defense Commissary
Agency has almost tripled the number of "green
clean," recycled and biodegradable products sold in
stores. Commissaries now offer 24 green and natural products
in laundry detergents, glass and surface cleaners, bleach,
stain removers, drain openers, fabric softeners, and floor
cleaners.
"We
see, by the sales of these items, that our customers want
this type of product," said Rick Page, the agency's
acting director. "As the availability of products in
the green clean, natural and recycled categories continues
to grow, DeCA will also continue to increase the number of
items we make available to our customers."
The
largest natural brand being stocked within DeCA is the
Seventh Generation brand. Commissaries also stock Citra Sol,
another well-known natural brand. Plus, many mainstream
brands are coming out with natural alternatives. Purex has a
laundry detergent called "Purex Naturals" and
Clorox has begun manufacturing all-purpose cleaning, glass,
bathroom and toilet bowl cleaner products under a
"Green Works" label.
Rounding
out the list of green products being sold at commissaries
are 21 types of compact fluorescent light bulbs and 15
recyclable products in the paper section.
According
to the Environmental Protection Agency's Web site, www.epa.gov,
about one out of every three commercial cleaning products
contains harmful chemicals. Green products are defined as
cleaning and maintenance products that minimize adverse
impacts on children's health and the environment, while
cleaning effectively. Environmentally preferable cleaning
products have less impact on human health and the
environment than their traditional counterparts because they
are generally less toxic and contain lower concentrations of
volatile organic compounds, ozone-depleting chemicals,
endocrine disrupters, and reproductive toxins and
carcinogens.
When
shopping for green clean products, consumers should check
labels for wording such as "nonhazardous,"
"mild or nonirritant" and "neutral pH."
Product
availability may differ from store to store.
Commissaries
celebrating ‘Earth Day’ all year long
By
Lynda Valentine,
DECA
FORT
LEE
,
Va.
– Earth Day takes place April 22, but the Defense
Commissary Agency is starting early by flipping the switch on
its first “solar powered” commissary at Los Angeles Air
Force Base, Calif.
The
Los Angeles
commissary is not new, but about 30 percent of the energy used
by the store will be powered by the sun. The $840,000 project
was funded through the Department of Defense Energy
Conservation Investment Program. While
Los Angeles
is the first DeCA store to be partially powered by solar
energy, the agency plans to seek additional opportunities to
use alternate sources of energy at commissaries worldwide in
areas with the highest utility costs.
Solar
power is just one of many “earth-friendly”
initiatives taking place at commissaries throughout the world.
Other initiatives include everything from selling
energy-saving light bulbs, “green clean” products and
reusable grocery bags, to reducing energy use at stores, and
partnering with the freight industry to ensure products are
shipped to commissaries in the most environmentally friendly
way possible.
The
SmartWay Transportation Partnership is an initiative that
creates voluntary partnerships between various freight
industry sectors and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Participants work to reduce unnecessary long-duration truck
and locomotive idling, with a goal to save up to 150 million
barrels of oil annually while reducing greenhouse emissions.
DeCA currently partners with 12 companies using the SmartWay
approach.
Under
the agency’s energy management program, commissaries now use
heat reclaimed from refrigeration systems for space and water
heating. In addition, many stores use energy-efficient,
glass-door-refrigerated display cases instead of open cases
and use display case lighting that automatically turns on and
off. These ideas and other initiatives have
cumulatively saved about $47.4 million in utility
costs since 1995.
With
implementation of an effective waste management plan in 2007,
DeCA recycled more than 38,400 tons of cardboard, plastic and
pallets, resulting in an increase of $1 million for the
surcharge account. Surcharge money is used to build new
commissaries and renovate existing ones.
“We
are committed to being an environmental leader in the food
marketing industry,” said Rick Page, DeCA’s acting
director. “A critical element of our leadership role is
effective waste management leading to zero waste at
commissaries nationwide. By working diligently and in an
orderly manner toward zero waste, DeCA is able to improve its
recycling volume and thus the surcharge revenue. Everyone
benefits – customers, our installation partners, DeCA, and
most importantly, the environment,” he said.
For
more information, look for “go green” campaign material at
your local commissary.
-
DeCA-
About
DeCA: The
Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of
commissaries providing groceries to military personnel,
retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping
environment. Authorized patrons purchase items at cost plus a
5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new
commissaries and modernizing existing ones. Shoppers save an
average of more than 30 percent on their purchases compared to
commercial prices – savings worth about $3,000 annually for
a family of four. A core military family support element, and
a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries
contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life
for America’s military and their families, and help recruit
and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their
country.
