Co-op Purposes Report
2021
PCC 2021 Impact: By the Numbers
Aligned with our vision, PCC is committed to a triple bottom line operating model. We balance environmental, social and economic goals while reducing environmental impacts and giving back to the community, including our staff. This comes to life in many ways, such as supporting PCC staff and their career aspirations; building green stores that have standards just as high as the products on our shelves; providing for our neighbors and larger community through grants, donations and sponsorships; and offering fun and educational classes through the PCC Cooking Classes program.
Serving Our Members
102,066 active members at year’s end; 13% increase in membership from 2020
40 special offers totaling nearly $300 in value for each member
Over $2.4M value in offers that were redeemed
Supporting Our Communities
Worked with 45+ organizations to support food security system
1.5 million meals provided to local neighborhoods
Connected 14 local, organic farms with 19 partner food banks through PCC Growing for Good program
$117K+ in donations and event sponsorships to local and regional organizations
Advancing Environmental Sustainability
100% renewable energy; achieved carbon negative store operations
87% of waste diverted from landfills
26% water use reduction per square foot
Approx. 100,000 single-use plastic water bottles eliminated per year through expanded bottle ban
Educating & Inspiring Through Cooking Classes
7,200+ students participated in classes (virtual and in-person)
483 classes held, 64 in-person
30% of instructors are BIPOC
30 different cuisines showcased
Focusing on Certified Organic & Local Products
8,600+ organic products offered
7% increase in organic products since 2020
9,000+ local products in stores
Providing Meaningful Staff Opportunities
90% of our store management positions are filled through promotions of internal candidates
53% of our office staff started their careers at PCC stores
4.38 years: average tenure of unionized PCC store staff — more than double the national average
Take a deeper look at these numbers and other co-op performance metrics from green stores to membership.
Download People and Planet Statement
Tracking Our Progress
Learn about how we continued to reduce carbon emissions, added organic products to our stores and remained committed to food security in every community we serve.
Download PDF
2021: The Year in Stories
PCC’s agility and leadership allowed the co-op to address emerging needs and opportunities in our communities, from taking the lead in allowing reusable containers in-store to facilitating a collaboration between local food banks and major food distributors. These stories and more were showcased in our bimonthly publication “Sound Consumer” that has been informing and inspiring the PCC community since 1961.
Click the links below to learn more from award-winning journalists about the people, movements and actions shaping our co-op, neighborhoods and planet.
Photo by Meryl Schenker
Feeding Our Community
Groundbreaking Program Connects Food Banks with PCC Supply Chain >
September 2021
PCC Launches Downtown Seattle Food Access Grants >
November 2021
Food Access: Getting “Extra” Food to People, Not Landfills >
July 2021
Photo provided by PCC Community Markets
Supporting & Advancing Organics
New Grants Help Organic Farmers Thrive >
March 2021
Growing for Good >
March 2022
Supported and Advanced Organic as a Climate Change Solution >
April 2021
Photo by Katie Vincent
Nurturing Healthy Communities
PCC Grants Give Back to Community >
January 2022
PCC Community Markets Announces 2021 Diverse Entrepreneur Grant Recipients >
December 2021
Photo provided by PCC Community Markets
From Products to Stores: Advancing the Well-Being of Human & Environmental Health
New Possibilities for Recycling Cork >
November 2021
Photo provided by SalmonState
Advocating for Sustainable Food & Agricultural Systems
PCC Takes Lead in New Reusable Container Rules >
November 2021
Support for the Healthy Environment For All (HEAL) Act >
March 2021
And Environmental Justice for All >
July 2021
Pebble Mine: A PCC Advocacy Timeline >
March 2021
Pebble Mine Has Been Stopped for Now. What’s Next for Bristol Bay’s Salmon Fishery? >
March 2021
Photo by Audra Mulkern
Celebrating Our Communities
A Pineapple Grows in Bellevue >
March 2021
Mowing Down the Grass Ceiling >
September 2021
Chef Kristi Brown, Central District Legends and Culinary “Communion” >
November 2021
The Heirloom Collard Project is a Surprisingly Northwest Success >
May 2021
PCC Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Update
In 2021, PCC continued building our culture of learning, compassion and inclusion. We identified that our co-op was in the discovery phase of important JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) work, where we aimed to identify and address gaps in our practices. Our JEDI work is a part of our ongoing operations and we will continue to learn and adjust. PCC’s commitment to JEDI touches every part of our co-op (employment, culture, supplier and product mix, community engagement and giving) and is truly an expression of our mission coming to life every day through every function and at every level.
Learn moreCompensation Structure and Philosophy
PCC is committed to being open and transparent with our community. In this spirit, we’re sharing the co-op’s compensation philosophy and structure.
Learn More