The planet is always on our mind, making Earth Day every day. As part of the Lifeway Mission, we’re dedicated to creating products that are good for more than just you. We strive to be good for the environment and our communities, too.
Here are some ways that we celebrate green business practices and dedication to environmental sustainability every day.
Farming
- All of Lifeway products use milk from cows that have not been treated with any artificial hormones. That means no rBGH, no rBST, no rB anything – and no antibiotics, either. We also encourage all of our farmers and cooperatives who supply us with milk to support efforts that promote the enhanced welfare of cattle. After all, happy cows mean tasty kefir for you, too.
- We also offer USDA Organic certified products including our 32-ounce organic kefir, Grassfed organic kefir, 3.5 ounce probiotic kefir functional shots, and our ProBugs products for kids (and adults at heart!).
Green Bio-based Bottles and Packaging
- We’ve recently switched our 8oz single serve and Organic kefir bottles to a more environmentally friendly packaging called green polyethylene, a material that is made of sugarcane, a renewable resource. Green polyethylene is a thermoplastic resin, which means our organic bottles now use plant-based materials rather than petroleum-based. This transition helps us further reduce greenhouse gas emissions and still provide bottles that are safe, BPA-free, and recyclable!
- We also use biodegradable plastics and upcycled materials whenever possible, from serve-ware such as cups, spoons, straws. Our napkins at events are made from 100% recycled, unbleached paper. All of our bottles are 100% recyclable and BPA-free.
- Lifeway ProBugs will contain new packaging that will be made with of postconsumer recycled content. New caps will contain 30% less plastic than the current cap.
- There are also no PFAs in any of our food processing equipment or packaging at Lifeway.
- All-Natural Ingredients. No Exceptions.
Environmental consciousness isn’t just about monitoring our waste, it’s also about being aware of what we produce, how we produce it, and how it will affect our community for years to come. Our products only contain all-natural ingredients that aren’t genetically modified. We’re consistently working with our suppliers and farmers to make sure we’re getting the best of the best. It’s simple: eating real food is better for you and for the earth.
Renewable Energy
- Since 2006 Lifeway Foods has procured 65,447 MWh of Green-e Certified RECs from Renewable Choice Energy/Schneider Electric. T
- 65,447 MWh of Green-e Certified RECs from Renewable Choice Energy/Schneider Electric. The avoided GHG emissions associated with this initiative is 28,312 MTCO2e. According to the EPA, this action is equivalent to the carbon emissions avoided by not burning 156 railcars of coal or the electricity generated annually by 7.9 industrial scale wind turbines. The GHG emissions avoidance associated with the Lifeway Foods green power initiative is equal to the carbon sequestered by 468,141 tree seedlings grown for 10-years or 33,763 acres of U.S. forest annually.
- LED light replacement in Niles, IL warehouse facility using 100% ComEd incentives. This will equate to 65% energy savings with new LED lights and we will continue replacement project at other locations.
- We’re also using High Temp Short Time (HTST) Pasteurization Production at the Morton Grove, IL facility. This will lead to less gas used, less heating energy, and quicker pasteurization.
Simple Ways to Celebrate Earth Day
- Try our Blueberry Cloud Smoothie
- Start a home garden.
- Find a way to reuse common household products you already use, such as glass containers that you can use for many types of needs.
- Cut the lights off when you leave a room.
- Open a window to let in fresh air instead of running the AC.
- Visit a local plant conservatory.
- Start recycling this week and continue throughout the year. You can find your local recycling center easily online!
- Create a meatless meal for dinner. We have so many delicious meatless options to choose from here!
- Take a walk or a run and pick up trash along the way “Plogging“.
Kind Meals
Eat clean and green this earth day with our Avocado Matcha Kefir Smoothie, Kale Yeah Kefir Smoothie, and Green Machine Smoothie Bowl.