PCC Community Markets is reimagining how grocery stores are built and creating unique spaces that nurture a deep sense of connection to the environment and our community. In 2019, PCC became the first grocery store in the world to pursue Living Building Challenge (LBC) Petal Certification. Set by the International Living Future Institute, LBC is the world’s most rigorous green building standard.
Our store development team spent thousands of hours reviewing over 800 building materials and pieces of equipment to ensure that our new stores comply with LBC’s strict sustainability requirements. We also promoted the availability of safe building products in the marketplace by writing more than 300 letters to manufacturers advocating for the elimination of toxic substances and educating on why they’re harmful to both human and environmental health.
Read more about our work in three performance areas: Place, Beauty and Materials.
“We set high standards for the food we allow on our shelves and LBC petal certification ensures that our stores are built with equally high standards.”
– Brenna Davis, PCC’s VP of Social and Environmental Responsibility
We select locations that are thoughtfully positioned in each community, providing benefits like walkability, bike storage and electric vehicle charging.
Our projects use nontoxic and sustainably sourced materials that support an ecologically restorative, transparent and socially equitable materials economy.
Our commitment to sustainability is nothing new. In 2006, Redmond PCC became the first grocery store in the U.S. to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification. In 2018, Burien PCC became the first grocery store in the U.S. to be certified under the new LEED v4 program.
All wood is either reclaimed or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified, which ensures that products only come from responsibly managed forests.
Low-impact Refrigeration
We keep our products fresh using a carbon dioxide refrigeration system, which is thousands of times less impactful on the climate than synthetic refrigerants.
Locally Sourced Materials
Twenty percent of building products (by material budget) come from within 500 kilometers of project sites.
Cast-iron Piping
Cast iron is used in lieu of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a substance deemed harmful to human and environmental health.
