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 millions of textbooks. 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.
Our sustainability efforts are designed to align directly with the goals and priorities of each campus we serve. While we do not take a one-size-fits-all, centralized approach, we actively embrace university-led sustainability initiatives at the local store level. This means that our campus store managers and staff are empowered (and expected) to integrate sustainable practices into daily operations.
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.
