Making a positive impact on our community
one loaf at a time
At Companion, we are dedicated to crafting baked goods that sustain the body and fuel the spirit. We pledge to openly communicate our practices, challenges, and successes, fostering a relationship built on trust with our companions and our community. We envision a future where every loaf echoes a commitment to sustainability, social responsibility, and community enrichment.
WHERE WE STARTED
Over the years, as our business grew, our waste management – or lack thereof – spiraled out of control. We had no system for organizing various types of spent materials, both raw and rubbage. Items were being mindlessly thrown out without any thought of repurposing or reuse. The cost to our company, and our community, was tremendous.
something needed to change…
WHERE WE ARE –
TRASH IN POUNDS
We went from 1.6 million lbs of trash to landfill to less than 122,000 lbs between Feb 2017 and December 2024
We reduced total trash to landfill by almost 93% between Feb 2017 and December 2024
TRASH EFFICIENCY
Even as we bake more bread, we are focused on keeping our waste output to a minimum.
Trash Efficiency compares our sales dollars to pounds of trash we generate. As sales and production increase, it’s expected that the amount of waste will also rise. However, we are committed to maintaining proportionately low levels of trash through repurposing and reuse programs that we’ve implemented internally.
WHERE WE ARE –
TRASH EFFICIENCY
We went from $6 of sales per pound of total trash to almost $28 of sales per pound of trash
ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2024
LBS RECYCLED
LBS COMPOSTED
LBS OF WASTE DIVERTED THANKS TO IDEAS FROM BAKERS
OPERATIONAL ADJUSTMENTS
CHANGE
Reusing scrap dough in mixes
Composting scrap dough that can’t be sold or upcycled
Eliminated double printing invoices
Automated our case packing process
Repurposing materials
Switched to custom fluted pans
Added a mini vertical baler
Began collecting and recycling metal wickets
RESULT
Saves approx. 80,000 lbs of waste per year
Removes approx 400,000 lbs of waste from landfill per year
Saves over 16,000 sheets of paper per year
Improves long term health and well-being of Companions
Diverts 1.5 tons of 5-gallon buckets (approx. 1,200 buckets) from landfill each year by partnering with local community garden and schools to create raised bucket gardens, store honey, and provide learning materials
Approx. 2,000 pounds of parchment paper saved per year
Approx. 2,500 pounds of soft plastics diverted from landfill to recycling each year
Approx. 500 pounds of material diverted from landfill per year
- = Change
- = Result
- Reusing scrap dough in mixes
- Saves approx. 80,000 lbs of waste per year
- Composting scrap dough that can’t be sold or upcycled
- Removes approx. 400,000 lbs of waste from landfill per year
- Eliminated double printing invoices
- Saves over 16,000 sheets of paper per year
- Switched to a standard size box
- Improves long term health and well-being of Companions
- Repurposing materials
- Diverts 1.5 tons of 5-gallon buckets (approx. 1,200 buckets) from landfill each year by partnering with local community garden and schools to create raised bucket gardens, store honey, and provide learning materials
- Switched to custom fluted pans
- Approx. 2,000 pounds of parchment paper saved per year
- Added a mini vertical baler
- Approx. 2,500 pounds of soft plastics diverted from landfill to recycling each year
- Began collecting and recycling metal wickets
- Approx. 500 pounds of material diverted from landfill per year
WATCH HEAD BREAD GUY, JOSH ALLEN’S, TEDx PRESENTATION ON TRASH EFFICIENCY
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
As a proud member of the St. Louis community, we’ve always made a commitment to giving back. These are just some of the organizations and causes we support.
Click a logo to visit their site and help us help others!
OUR PARTNERS
We received grant funding through St. Louis-Jefferson Solid Waste Management District in 2022-2023 to help provide additional resources to reduce waste at the bakery
Reduction In Motion is a team of zero waste and sustainability consultants helping us continue to strive for our goal of zero waste