Sustainability has always been a core tenet of INFRA’s model. As a cooperative at the center of independent business and natural foods, the retailers that make up our membership have always advocated for a food system that prioritizes soil health, promotes optimal nutrition, and protects our natural resources. As an organization, INFRA is leading the way when it comes to reimagining how businesses can create healthier communities, and a healthier planet.
Why B Corp, And What Lies Ahead
INFRA’s B Corp Certification was a natural step towards formalizing our commitment to using business as a force for good. B Lab’s certification standards require to meet rigorous and continually evolving sustainability benchmarks, holding us accountable to our commitments while pushing us to improve. Rachel Comeaux, Sustainability Manager comments, “These standards require us to walk the walk… It’s not enough to say we’re doing this. We must have concrete metrics to prove that we’re living up to the statements we’re making.”
Even under B Labs rigorous standards, INFRA achieved B Corp Certification within its “business-as-usual” operations. That doesn’t mean, however, that there isn’t room for improvement. According to Rachel and INFRA Office Manager Henry Slocum, INFRA will continue to look for more ways to support local economic circularity, reduce and prevent waste, and find opportunities to lead when it comes to sustainable solutions.
Reducing Waste and Promoting Circularity
This commitment extends to INFRA’s day-to-day office operations—from office supplies to catering to vendor samples. Henry comments, “We try to be thoughtful and set standards and guidelines, working to the greatest extent possible to eliminate waste… It’s not just about the trash we generate; it’s also about avoiding generating waste in the first place.”
Beyond reducing INFRA’s ecological footprint, we are actively prioritizing local economic circularity whenever possible, buying from Minnesota-based vendors, supporting the work of local good food organizations, and reducing transportation miles involved in INFRA’s operations. As Rachel comments, “reducing and preventing waste is cultural for us.”
In 2026, INFRA is piloting reusable sample ware at the Annual Conference and Tabletop Buying Show. While previous years included reusable drinkware and serve ware through r.world, this marks a strong step towards lessening our ecological impact and waste. Industry-wide, trade shows produce roughly 600,000 lbs. of trash*, so there is a huge opportunity to lead when it comes to waste reduction at the INFRA Annual Conference. “We want to lead the industry,” Rachel comments, “we want to show people that we’re serious and that there’s a different way to do things.”
Reusable serve and dish ware at the 2024 INFRA Annual Conference
Measuring Impact
As B Corp moves towards a new set of standards in 2026, INFRA’s recertification in 2029 will require us to submit in-depth reporting on all aspects of our business, including sustainability. Our planned partnership with Ecolytics will give us a window into waste and energy benchmarks, allowing us to see where we’re at while setting goals for improvement.
Henry comments, “It’s easier to maintain existing practices and habits than to change them. That’s one of the biggest upsides of B Corp. If you want to maintain this certification, you have to continually evaluate your practices and relationships to make sure that they are meeting or exceeding standards.”
Looking ahead, this work is about more than maintaining a certification—it reflects a commitment to continuously raising the bar for how we operate and support our community. By investing in better data, stronger partnerships, and a commitment to accountability, INFRA is positioning itself to make meaningful, measurable progress before the next recertification cycle. Ultimately, the goal isn’t just to meet evolving B Corp standards, but to use them as a catalyst for lasting improvement that benefits our members, the industry, and the planet.
INFRA staff on a visit to Lundberg's regenerative organic farms
Want to learn more about INFRA’s B Corp Certification and what it means for our business? Visit naturalfoodretailers.com/about/infra-b-corp-certification.
*Source: https://responsiblyrain.com/blogs/rain-water/tradeshows-and-their-impact-on-the-planet#:~:text=Did%20you%20know%20that%20the,ranges%20from%20$2%2C000%2D$10%2C000.
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