We got our start with textbooks. Or, said differently ... paper. It's not lost on us that we use natural resources to serve our communities and build our livelihoods, and it's only right that we give back.
Some efforts around sustainability are centralized, meaning they are led from the top and implemented within our major systems. This is most evident in things like our textbook recycling program.
Many efforts around sustainability are decentralized, meaning they are led from the bottom. The team members we hire to operate stores at the local level have the budget and mandate to build sustainability into their daily practices and to engage in sustainability initiatives local to them.
Below you'll find a few of the specific ways we think about sustainability here at Valore.
We own 5,000,000 textbooks (yes, five million). Some of our inventory becomes unusable over time, for any number of reasons. Rather than simply dispose of the books, we recycle in a variety of ways depending on the condition and original material composition. Some books are even brought to life as cool new products.
Our buyers help identify and purchase product and packaging from vendors who elevate sustainability in believable ways. Embracing sustainable vendors is good for the environment and good for business, and it remains a central aspect of our sourcing decisions.
Since the team members we hire (or retain) are given the flexibility they need to make decisions to meet our sustainability goals, selection at each campus looks different, but the overarching mandate is the same.
We're looking to learn from our peers. We've joined AASHE and are participating in an effort to bring the best ideas to our operations, and find other ways to contribute broadly outside of our operation. Our hope is to bring ideas to campus that will be embraced by students and administration alike.
Sustainability starts local. When we make investments into retail spaces, we do so with sustainability in mind and break toward environmentally responsible choices. From paint to lighting to fixtures, we believe the small decisions we make set the tone for our broader sustainability interests.
Retail space aside, we're interested in learning more about your local sustainability groups, events, and initiatives, and supporting them as members and contributors.
