I created a music video featuring the song Higher Ground.  It is about one person’s journey to make a difference.  I feel like many people don’t see the impact that they can make as an individual.  It’s really about solidarity and coming together for something. In this case the climate crisis. 

I have been following the environmental research about climate change for quite some time, it is something everyone should be concerned about.  I think filmmaking should always tell a story and have a real meaning to make some kind of a difference… and in this case I wanted the story to inspire others to take action.  You know, one person can bring a few people together and others hear and see that.  Then more groups come together, and then more groups come together, and eventually they can even do bigger things together like influencing political decision-makers and further impact change on a global level. I think in today’s world and regarding my generation, we are used to immediate results, it can make it hard to see the big picture and see what persistence & groups of people can do.  

Whole Foods Market believes that food can be a force for good, a principle that drives its purpose to nourish both people and the planet. Recognizing the fundamental link between climate and business, the company has taken on the responsibility of creating a more resilient food system.
This commitment is exemplified through a comprehensive food waste reduction strategy. As an active member of ReFED and the World Wildlife Fund’s U.S. Food Waste Pact, Whole Foods set an ambitious goal: reduce food waste by 50%. To achieve this, the company focuses on three key strategies--decrease, donate, divert.

• Decrease: Whole Foods works to prevent food waste before it happens. Through programs like Too Good To Go and Enjoy Today, the company saved more than 636,000 meals from landfills in 2024 while also providing customers with high-quality food at affordable prices.
• Donate: When food is safe to eat but unsold, it is donated to those in need. In 2024, Whole Foods donated over 34 million pounds of food—enough for nearly 29 million meals—through more than 1,000 food rescue and redistribution programs nationwide.
• Divert: Food that cannot be consumed is kept out of landfills through organic diversion programs such as composting. By the end of 2024, 84% of stores had active diversion programs, collectively keeping more than 91,000 tons of food waste out of landfills.

Through these efforts, Whole Foods Market demonstrates how sustainable practices, waste reduction, and community engagement can work together to create a more responsible and equitable food system—one that will last for generations to come.

**ICYMI**
Park RIdge Whole Foods Market works with woman-owned Collective Resource Compost Cooperative(CRCC) which has been a worker- and consumer-owned co-op since the summer of 2023. CRCC has been providing organics hauling services for over a decade to residents, businesses, restaurants, caterers, venues, faith communities, schools, soup kitchens, and food pantries. They are making it easier and easier for Park Ridge to reduce landfill waste residentially, at two drop off locations, and with Park Ridge's vibrant business community. 

Thank you, Park Ridge Whole Foods Market and Collective Resource Compost Cooperative!

In the 1970s, two lifelong friends from Park Ridge, Brian Lawrence and Paul Minasian, began an extraordinary collaboration that would have a lasting impact on sustainability. Together, they combined the expertise of their respective companies—Henkel, a global leader in adhesives, and Graphic Innovators (now Pregis), a machinery and equipment manufacturing company—to tackle the challenge of eliminating the plastic bubble wrap mailer.

Their innovative partnership led to the development and patenting of production lines for curbside recyclable padded mailers. These mailers, now widely used by companies like Amazon, Walmart, and Target in e-commerce, offer an eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastic packaging.
The journey began with a prototype production line that produced a few thousand test samples to prove the concept. This success paved the way for a fully purpose-built customer line, which ultimately expanded into multiple production lines across the country. Today, plants nationwide manufacture these recyclable mailers, and over 1 billion have been sold, preventing thousands of tons of plastic from polluting our environment.

The legacy of Brian and Paul’s innovation continues to grow. They remain committed to developing new paper-based packaging products, further reducing consumer reliance on plastic and contributing to a healthier planet.
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We are proud to honor Brian Lawrence and Paul Minasian for their visionary work and dedication to sustainability, which has made a profound difference in our community and beyond.

​Our St Andrews Family is so honored to be nominated as a Go Green Park Ridge Change Maker!  Thank you for all you do to highlight those in our community who are looking after our environment.

Our congregation voted this summer to move forward with the solar plan.  We are grateful for the many government incentives available and to the Lutheran Church Extension Fund (the financial arm of our church body) for making it possible for us to complete this project.  We anticipate that the solar system we installed will make the electricity use on our campus energy neutral throughout the course of a year. 

It is our belief that our environment and our campus are great gifts from God, and we are grateful that we can honor God by being good stewards of our space for those in our community (our parking lot is full most nights of the week because of community use!) and that we can be better stewards of our environment by making use of green energy. 

Our hope is that we can be a good example of care and concern for our planet, and that more businesses and non-profits would be able to install solar technology on their own campuses in the future.  It is a great win-win, we get to use renewable energy and save money at the same time!  We can use the savings to advance the mission of our church and serve our neighbors.  What could be better than that!


Rev. Matt Hoffmann
Pastor, St. Andrews Lutheran Church and School
Park Ridge, IL

The Park Ridge Public Library has been embracing an aspect of their strategic plan to “lead green as a convener, researcher, and public example.”

Laura Scott, manager of Adult Services, has found opportunities for patrons and staff to be environmentally friendly. In 2021, GGPR asked if she would consider forming an environmentally focused book discussion at the Library, and she readily agreed. The Green Reads group began in 2021 and meets quarterly. Laura worked with SWANCC to get funding for a thermal camera for the Exploration Library collection last year. In 2023, Laura approached the Library’s director, Joanna Bertucci, to ask if it might be possible to start composting with Collective Resource in the staff lunchroom and recycling envelopes with EcoShip Chicago, a nonprofit, community-based organization, and Joanna said yes to both!

Lauren Bochat, manager of Technical Services, and her team are implementing Laura's vision to recycle. This past year, they collected 150 pounds of packing and shipping materials to be reused. UPS and EcoShip Chicago are happy to receive the library's gently used materials to share with individuals and small businesses.
 
Lauren and Laura are excited to add these offerings to their existing programs and materials for kids and adults that promote sustainability.