Sustainability at the Co-op
Environmental integrity is one of our core values at the co-op. We are dedicated to our sustainability practices and finding new ways to put less into the waste stream. Here is a look at several eco-friendly choices available to everyone shopper at the co-op, and the small actions we take in our day-to-day operations behind the scenes at the store.
Save On-The-Go
Did you know? If you bring your own travel mug for fresh hot coffee or tea, you receive a discount at the co-op! Thank you for helping to reduce single-use coffee cups.
Plastic-Free Produce
Buy fresh produce without the plastic! We have optional BPI Certified compostable bags available in our produce department. They are designed to breakdown in the average backyard composting system. Perfect for transporting your produce home without harmful waste.
Carry Your Groceries With Care
When you bring your own bag or basket for your groceries, not only are you helping us save on paper bags, but you get to vote on donations! Each reusable bag earns a bean, which you can drop in the jar of your choice for one of the featured organizations. At the end of the quarter, we donate 5 cents per bean. Learn more about our Beans for Bags program here.
On days when something more sturdy is needed, we also have boxes available, saved from unpacking our product shipments. Customers are welcome to use these to carry their groceries home. This helps to use cardboard one more time before it goes to the recycle bin.
If you haven’t shopped in our bulk department yet, you’re missing out!
Bulk is better for the wallet and the planet. It’s one of our favorite resources for minimalist living at the co-op. From spices, teas, coffee, grains, beans, granola, snacks, chocolate candy to laundry soap and lotion – the bulk department has nearly everything and makes shopping fun, sustainable and budget-friendly!
Buying staple products from bulk allows you to purchase just the amount you need, while keeping perfectly good containers out of the trash. Got a mason jar, empty yogurt container or cloth bulk bag? Just bring them in, fill them up, check out, rinse and repeat – it’s that simple! If you forget to bring your own container, no worries, you can use one of ours — check the waste-free shelf (see below)!
Bulk products are sold by the weight, and reusable container weights are subtracted from your grocery bill to ensure you’re only paying for the product itself. When shopping with containers from home, don’t forget to weigh them at the bulk scale before filling. Write down this tare weight and the product bin number for our cashier. If you get stuck or have questions, feel free to ask a staff member. We are happy to help you succeed on your journey to reduce waste!
Zero-Waste Refills
Forgot your containers? No problem!
You can still choose to reduce waste and refill. We have a collection of reusable containers in our bulk department. They are on the wire shelf at the end of the bulk table. Containers have been donated by the community to be used again. We inspect and sanitize them in a commercial dishwasher, then mark them with their tare weights for easy shopping. Take your pick, fill up on bulk goods, write down the bin number and check out as usual. The container is now yours to keep and refill again next time!
We accept donations periodically when we run low. Watch for our collection cart to appear at the front of the store. Containers for reuse must be food-grade, clean and in good condition with no chips, cracks or scratches and must have a tight-fitting lid.
Sustainability With Local Milk
We offer milk and cream in glass bottles from Crystal Ball Farm and it’s a great way to support sustainability in our food supply. There is an initial $2 deposit for the glass bottle, but you will earn it back when the bottle is returned to the co-op. Clean, empty milk bottles are sent back to the creamery to be sterilized and refilled with more milk — it’s a closed loop system!
Benefiting Those In Need
Twice a week the co-op makes deliveries to the Winona Volunteer Services Food Shelf. These deliveries are made up of food that has reached it’s limit for sale but still remains good to eat. This cuts down on our waste at the co-op and supports those in our community who are facing food insecurity. 11,257 pounds of food was donated to Winona Food Shelf in 2025 through this food rescue initiative.
Nutrients Back To Soil
Our pre-consumer food waste generated by our Produce department and Co-op Kitchen is diverted from the landfill and turned into compost through the cooperation of local land-owners and farmers. We greatly appreciate their efforts!
Protecting Precious Water
Bluff Country Co-op’s rain garden is one of our most visible efforts to lessen our impact on the local environment. Rain gardens allow more water to soak into the ground, which can help mitigate urban flooding. They naturally filter stormwater runoff through the roots of native grasses and perennials, preventing polluted water from entering lakes, rivers and streams.
Our rain garden provides us with better stormwater drainage in our parking lot and regularly saves over 80 pounds of sand and sediment from entering the Mississippi River every year! Not only that, but the rain garden also provides refuge and sustenance for birds and insects too. It is home to asters, milkweeds, mountain mint, cup plant, yellow coneflowers, river birch and many other native plants.