Zhaozheng Chen
Monash University
Gitanjali Bedi
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Caroline believes that the grocery has contributed to some of the UN’s 17 SDGs, including Goal 1 No poverty by supporting Fairtrade product, Goal 3 Good health and well-being by trading organic goods to customers, Goal 7 Clean energy by using green power, Goal 8 Economic growth, Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production, Goal 13 Climate change, and Goal 15 Life on land which can be considered as an enormous achievement for a grocery.
The innovation practice of the grocery is mainly selling organic products. The owners believe that ‘a successful business can be built on acting ethically and valuing sustainability.’ Their mission is to support local organic farmers and industry who value the same with them because they care about the environment. The grocer buys green power to minimize its resource usage and to offset its carbon production. Also, the grocery provides waste recycle system to the local community which the food waste from the grocery will go to local organic gardens. In addition, the owners will participate in local philanthropic programs to educate schools, kindergartens, and communities the benefit of having organic products and the meaning of sustainability.
The co-founder Caroline, who has worked at the field of sustainability over 20 years, together with her partner, Chris who has worked with organic food for more than 20 years, initially came up with the idea of organic grocery in 2010. Their strong passion for looking after the planet has helped them to insist on the business from the beginning to now. In Caroline’s vision, she wishes the future world will invest more in the environment and ecosystem, as well as not over developing our precious land. She hopes government and politicians can call for more renewable energy, support more on sustainable agriculture. Also, she wants people can be more conscious while buying and consuming.
As the Green Onions grocery is customer based, it has attracted customers with similar values over the past 8 years. The renovation and expansion of the shop is the sign of increasing local awareness. The work Caroline put on educating the communities and schools has started to taking effects, more and more people around the area start to understand the importance the sustainability for future development.
The innovation has lead to successful business expansion, also from leasing to owning the property. In addition, public awareness of the grocery, particularly customer base, has increased dramatically since opening. More organic producers become their suppliers.
More and more local organic farmers receive support from Green Onions. People in the surrounding communities have been educated with the idea of sustainability. Caroline believes that she has contributed to some of the UN’s 17 SDGs, including Goal 1 No poverty by supporting Fairtrade product, Goal 3 Good health and well-being by trading organic goods to customers, Goal 7 Clean energy by using green power, Goal 8 Economic growth, Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production, Goal 13 Climate change, and Goal 15 Life on land which can be considered as an enormous achievement for a grocery.
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Chris, Co-Owner
Green Onions is an independent and family owned organic grocer located at Malvern East. It was founded by the couple, Caroline and Chris in 2010. Since 2010, the grocery has experienced two building renovations and increased from two employees to six now. The grocery only stocks 100% certified organic products and 100% Australian grown vegetables and fruit from local organic farmers who have the same value with the grocer, also it does not use any plastic packaging.