Sustainability

Our sustainability statement

Meals on Wheels People is committed to responsible stewardship of resources and leadership in sustainable business practices. Concern for the environment and promoting a broader sustainability agenda are integral to the management of the organization. We promote good sustainability practices, strive to reduce the environmental impacts of our activities, and help our clients and partners do the same.

The Green Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for promoting sustainability in eight areas of practice:

Sustainable Facilities
Clean Energy
Transportation
Sustainable Operations
Waste Reduction and Recycling
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
Sustainable Food Service
Sustainable Water Systems

Our Sustainability Statement is based upon the following principles:

To comply with, and exceed where practicable, all applicable legislation, regulations and codes of law.
To integrate sustainability considerations into all our business decisions.
To minimize resource use in and the environmental impact of all central kitchen, operations, and office activities.
To ensure that all staff are fully aware of our Environmentally Sustainable Procurement Guidelines and are committed to implementing and improving them.
To make clients and suppliers aware of our Environmentally Sustainable Procurement Guidelines, and encourage them to adopt sound sustainable management practices.
To review, annually report on, and continually improve our sustainability performance.

Meals on Wheels People: Driving Sustainable Transportation in 2020!

We are proud to announce that Meals on Wheels People has received funding from the PGE Drive Change Fund! This gift will allow us to purchase electric vehicles to deliver meals. Thank you to @PortlandGeneral for investing in the electric future. PGE Drive Change Fund is funded by the DEQ’s Oregon Clean Fuels program @OregonDEQ.

With this funding, we will install electric charging stations and purchase two new electric vehicles. We can’t wait to enhance our fleet, have more access to cleaner cars, save on gas and still deliver meals! Thank you Portland General!

Read more about this investment.

What we are working on

FOOD

Menu planning with Food Waste Management study results in mind
Large scale composting program launched at Resource Center and Central Kitchen
Composting programs run at multiple sites

RESOURCES

Future planning/investment
Year 2 of Strategic Energy Management through Oregon Energy Trust proposal accepted
Reduction of disposables at Centers and Resource Center
Reusable Tray Test Pilot wrap-up and results

FACILITIES

Certified GOLD by the City of Portland’s Sustainability at Work (link to webpage)
Updated HVAC system at the Central Kitchen
Motion detectors on lighting in Resource Center
Certified GOLD by the City of Portland’s Sustainability at Work (link to webpage)
LED lighting upgrade at Resource Center