South East Market Named Sustainable Business of the Year

South East Market has been named the 2022 West Michigan Sustainable Business of the Year by members of the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum. The Market was recognized during the ninth annual Triple Bottom Line Bash on Wednesday, October 5 at the Peter Martin Wege Theatre.

The West Michigan Sustainable Business of the Year is selected annually by a vote of the Forum membership, honoring the local organization that best represents the region’s commitment to the triple-bottom line and its efforts to advance climate leadership, social justice and the creation of a circular economy. South East Market was chosen from six honorees that were also recognized at the Triple Bottom Line Bash.

“South East Market is honored to be given this recognition by the Forum,” said South East Market Co-founder Khara DeWit. “We birthed this vision with sustainability and equity as core to our mission. We are just one small player in a collective vision for a sovereign and resilient local food system for West Michigan.”  

The Market has been community powered from the start. They prioritize their ongoing social responsibility, empowerment and food justice work infused in its operations. It’s a movement the Market hopes to continue to lead. 

DeWit said that this award is only possible with the collaboration of their community partners and conscious customers showing up to vote with their dollar.

“So much is possible if we reinvest appropriately and center our local communities in our decisions around profitability,” said DeWit. “We hope this award ignites further startups and shows them the value of a community working in tandem to lean into the risk and push forward with their values for a sustainable future rooted in equity for generations beyond us to enjoy the bounty of Earth and the people around us.”

The Triple Bottom Line Bash is the signature event of the local sustainable business community. The Forum recognized a total of six companies and institutions at the event:

• Hispanic Center of Western Michigan empowers more than 20,000 individuals to support themselves and the Hispanic community each year from its headquarters in the Roosevelt Park neighborhood, the largest Latino neighborhood in the region. In addition to its efforts to address racial inequity and support local immigrants, the center is a zero-stormwater site and has worked to promote environmental sustainability in the Hispanic community through its green team.  
  
• Hope Collegehas been a key player in the growth of sustainability on the Lakeshore and originated the city’s sustainability initiative. Campus staff has provided leadership within the state, supporting emerging programs at other schools. It is also innovating through the use of reusable food service materials. 
  
• Meijer this year announced a three-year goal to reduce carbon emissions by 50%, while making major investments to address plastic pollution in the region, reduce food waste through new technology, increase the use of recycled content and eliminate PFAS from its products, engage its supply chain in sustainability and support green infrastructure. It also boasts the industry’s lowest refrigerant emissions and highest percentage of stores with EV charging.
  
• PADNOS, one of the state and country’s leading recycling firms, is accelerating the circular economy through its “Sustainability City “initiative, helping to redefine recyclability for local industry. It also this year invested in electric vehicles for its truck fleet, while maintaining a strong commitment to DEI.  
  
• South East Market is working to address systemic inequities and health disparities in Grand Rapids while building a more sustainable food system. More than a grocery store, its educational and support programs, intentional sourcing, and advocacy are building wealth for local communities. 
  
• Volta Power Systems provides lithium-ion energy storage solutions for small to mid-size businesses. The young and rapidly growing company has eliminated thousands of fossil fuel-powered generators from mobile applications.  
  

WMSBF also recognized three local professionals with Hall of Fame Induction and the Future Hall of Fame Award. 

Hall of Fame inductees are Mansfield Matthewson, Director of Purchasing (ret.) for Grand Rapids Community College and the late Amy Butler, who was Director of Sustainability for Michigan State University at the time of her death earlier this year. Luis Chen, founder of Wormies Vermicompost was honored as this year’s Future Hall of Fame Award winner.

The Sustainable Business Hall of Fame is a lifetime achievement award that recognizes extraordinary contributions to the growth of sustainable business in the West Michigan area over the course of a career. The Future Hall of Fame awardhonors an emerging professional whose work deserves wider recognition. 

“We are grateful for the opportunity to recognize the important work that local businesses and institutions are doing to advance sustainability outcomes,” said Daniel Schoonmaker, WMSBF executive director. “Our honorees are representative of West Michigan’s leadership within the state and country.”