Dot's spirit of sustainability stems from the nature of our co-founders, Robert (RT) and Dorothy Tracy.
Raising 12 children in their Mt. Sterling home, the Tracys knew that every saved penny made a difference and they extended this philosophy into every aspect of their family business. If you left the copy machine running unattended or forgot to turn off the lights on your way out of the office, you were going to hear about it from Mr. Tracy.
As our business grows, so does our approach to energy conservation and our commitment to sustainability. We track everything from utilities and water usage to truck and rail miles to ensure we are doing our part to minimize our footprint on the planet.
Our Top Waste Elimination Methods
Food Donations
In an effort to minimize food waste while supporting our communities, Dot sends upwards of two million pounds of non-perishable grocery items to area foodbanks every year.
Paper Usage
By shifting to electronic transactions for all customer and vendor communications, we have reduced our companywide dependency on paper substantially over the last decade.
Recycled Materials
Since 2020, Dot has successfully kept more than 6 million pounds of corrugated cardboard out of our landfills by making recycling a priority throughout our daily processes.
Repurposed Food Products
Rather than disposing of food nearing its expiration, we donate it to farmers who convert it into hog feed. This saves roughly 400,000 pounds of protein-free food from hitting landfills every single year.
Reduced Waste
We work to eliminate unnecessary processes from our work. This translates to less material, energy, and waste in our systems.
Our Sustainability Initiatives
Supplier Sustainability
When we pick up product at a manufacturing plant instead of the supplier's distribution center, we remove an average of 25,000 miles from Dot and our suppliers' supply chain annually. The product's freshness and integrity increase with this method as well.
We remove our suppliers' less-than-truckload (LTL) orders from the road, meaning fewer trucks are burning fuel and creating unnecessary carbon emissions. See how our business model helps suppliers save money and reduce their footprint.
"At Dot, success is when sustainability is no longer an initiative, but the way we approach our everyday work."
—Dick Tracy, Dot Foods CEO
Join Dot Foods
We are constantly growing and always looking for more diverse, unique, and exceptional people to join our team.
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