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Impact2019

greens

Announcing

sweetgreen in schools
We are proud to announce our partnership with FoodCorps to reimagine school cafeterias.
Pledging $1M over the next two years, sweetgreen is committed to creating a scalable model that works to advance the health of our nation’s 30 million students eating lunch every day.

Announcing

sweetgreen in schools
We are proud to announce our partnership with FoodCorps to reimagine school cafeterias.
Pledging $1M over the next two years, sweetgreen is committed to creating a scalable model that works to advance the health of our nation’s 30 million students eating lunch every day.
greens
logo

Impact2019

Check out the ways we work to leave people and the planet better than we found them
Food Education

9,000

students reached by Sweetgreen in Schools

Food Access

10,000

individuals facing food insecurity gained access to real food

Sustainabilty

80%

of our waste stream is now fully compostable

Community

100%

of opening day proceeds donated to local organizations

Check out the ways we work to leave people and
the planet better than we found them
Food Education

9,000

students reached by Sweetgreen in Schools

Food Access

10,000

individuals facing food insecurity gained access to real food

Sustainabilty

80%

of our waste stream is now fully compostable

Community

100%

of opening day proceeds donated to local organizations

FOOD
EDUCATION

FOOD EDUCATION

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

Healthy food fuels a healthy life. When students know where their food comes from, they’re empowered to make better decisions for themselves, their families and their future.
01 / 02

Sweetgreen in Schools

This next phase of sweetgreen in schools will make healthier food accessible for our nation’s kids and create more enjoyable cafeteria experiences. Using flavor stations and tech-driven taste tests, this initiative will pilot innovative ways to guide students to experiment with real food and make healthier choices for their futures.
01

1 in  3

of our nation’s children are on track to develop diabetes in their lifetime. For kids of color, it’s one in two.

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02
"I thought broccoli was nasty. Not this broccoli. You do it right."
- 5th grader, Sweetgreen in Schools student
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03
"You opened my world to sweet potatoes!"
- 4th grader, Sweetgreen in Schools student

FOOD
ACCESS

FOOD ACCESS

REAL FOOD FOR ALL

A food system is not sustainable if it's not accessible. Our work is rooted in a passion for making real food convenient and craveable for all.
01 / 02

Hank’s Mini Market

Working with the Los Angeles Food Policy Council’s Healthy Neighborhood Market Network, sweetgreen led a complete transformation of Hank’s Mini Market, located in one of the worst food deserts in South LA. In 2018, Hank’s Mini Market grew revenue by over 300% from 2017 to 2018.
01

23.5M

Americans live in a defined food desert, and 1 in 7 Americans struggle with food insecurity.

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02
“Often, big businesses come into neighborhoods and push out mom-and-pops. Instead, sweetgreen helped us better serve our community.”
- Kelli Jackson, Second-generation Store Owner, Hank’s Mini Market
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03
“Sweetgreen sees a bigger picture when it comes to community impact. It’s a powerful way to look at creating a healthier and more equitable society.”
- Annika Morgan, Co-Founder / Chief Operating Officer Fresh Truck

SUSTAIN-
ABILITY

SUSTAIN-
ABILITY

TALKING TRASH

Sweetgreen believes in leaving people and places better than we found them. From packaging design to waste management, we take steps to positively impact the food system and the planet.
01 / 02

Composting for a Better Future

100% of our stores have compost services and pickup — on average we divert 60% of our waste from landfills and compost 75% of food scraps.
01

60M

tons, or $160 billion worth, of fruits and vegetables go to the landfill in the United States every year.

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02
Every customer-facing item in our restaurants is certified compostable, including forks, lids, bowls and bags, cups and straws.
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03
A Circular System win: In our NYC restaurants serviced by Royal Waste Services, all food waste and certified compostable material is taken to McEnroe Organic Farms and converted into compost.

COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY

WE ARE FAMILY

At its heart, sweetgreen is a people company. Our work is all about relationships — with farmers, team members, guests and local communities. We take care of one another however we can, whenever we can.
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Sweetgreen Family Fund

The sweetgreen Family Fund provides emergency financial support to team members in need. Generous contributions are made possible through the voluntary payroll deductions of our fellow team members. In 2018, sweetgreen provided 16 Family Fund grants to employees across the country, amounting to over $17,000 in assistance.
01

87%

of consumers believe businesses can do more, but ONLY 13% think businesses can solve these problems…We want to change that.

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02
"When my home was destroyed in a fire, sweetgreen provided a check that I used to move into a new apartment. This job isn’t just about a paycheck, it’s about building community.”
- Kevin, sweetgreen team member and Family Fund recipient, Washington, D.C.
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03
100% of proceeds from LA restaurants donated to the Ventura County Community Foundation following the wildfires in November 2018.
Check out the ways we work to leave people and the planet better than we found them
Food Education

9,000

students reached by Sweetgreen in Schools

Food Access

10,000

individuals facing food insecurity gained access to real food

Sustainabilty

80%

of our waste stream is now fully compostable

Community

100%

of opening day proceeds donated to local organizations

Check out the ways we work to leave people and
the planet better than we found them
Food Education

9,000

students reached by Sweetgreen in Schools

Food Access

10,000

individuals facing food insecurity gained access to real food

Sustainabilty

80%

of our waste stream is now fully compostable

Community

100%

of opening day proceeds donated to local organizations

01

1 in  3

of our nation’s children are on track to develop diabetes in their lifetime. For kids of color, it’s one in two.

highlight picture
02
"I thought broccoli was nasty. Not this broccoli. You do it right."
- 5th grader, Sweetgreen in Schools student
highlight picture
03
"You opened my world to sweet potatoes!"
- 4th grader, Sweetgreen in Schools student
01

23.5M

Americans live in a defined food desert, and 1 in 7 Americans struggle with food insecurity.

highlight picture
02
“Often, big businesses come into neighborhoods and push out mom-and-pops. Instead, sweetgreen helped us better serve our community.”
- Kelli Jackson, Second-generation Store Owner, Hank’s Mini Market
highlight picture
03
“Sweetgreen sees a bigger picture when it comes to community impact. It’s a powerful way to look at creating a healthier and more equitable society.”
- Annika Morgan, Co-Founder / Chief Operating Officer Fresh Truck
01

60M

tons, or $160 billion worth, of fruits and vegetables go to the landfill in the United States every year.

highlight picture
02
Every customer-facing item in our restaurants is certified compostable, including forks, lids, bowls and bags, cups and straws.
highlight picture
03
A Circular System win: In our NYC restaurants serviced by Royal Waste Services, all food waste and certified compostable material is taken to McEnroe Organic Farms and converted into compost.
01

87%

of consumers believe businesses can do more, but ONLY 13% think businesses can solve these problems…We want to change that.

highlight picture
02
"When my home was destroyed in a fire, sweetgreen provided a check that I used to move into a new apartment. This job isn’t just about a paycheck, it’s about building community.”
- Kevin, sweetgreen team member and Family Fund recipient, Washington, D.C.
highlight picture
03
100% of proceeds from LA restaurants donated to the Ventura County Community Foundation following the wildfires in November 2018.

Get to know our community impact partners across the country.

1
map of sweetgreen projects
01 / 24
Fresh Truck
Impacts community health by getting fresh food to people through two mobile markets. SG impact: In addition to donating proceeds from our Legacy Place (Boston, MA) restaurant opening in March 2018, our design and store ops teams helped to upgrade the guest experience and aesthetics in their trucks.
Impacts community health by getting fresh food to people through two mobile markets. SG impact: In addition to donating proceeds from our Legacy Place (Boston, MA) restaurant opening in March 2018, our design and store ops teams helped to upgrade the guest experience and aesthetics in their trucks.
02 / 24
Food Project
Engages young people in Massachusetts in personal and social change through sustainable agriculture. SG impact: We engaged in team member volunteer days.
Engages young people in Massachusetts in personal and social change through sustainable agriculture. SG impact: We engaged in team member volunteer days.
03 / 24
Natick Community Organic Farm
A certified-organic farm providing productive open space, farm products, and hands-on education for all ages, year-round. SG impact: We donated proceeds from our Wellesley, Massachusetts restaurant opening in February 2018.
A certified-organic farm providing productive open space, farm products, and hands-on education for all ages, year-round. SG impact: We donated proceeds from our Wellesley, Massachusetts restaurant opening in February 2018.
04 / 24
Growing Home
Growing Home is an expert in farm-based job-readiness training for people with employment barriers.
Growing Home is an expert in farm-based job-readiness training for people with employment barriers.
05 / 24
Green City Market
Distributes, promotes and educates communities about local sustainably-grown food. SG impact: We partnered to help expand the program and increase Link Match from $15 to sometimes $25 so that Chicagoans most at-risk have access to real food.
Distributes, promotes and educates communities about local sustainably-grown food. SG impact: We partnered to help expand the program and increase Link Match from $15 to sometimes $25 so that Chicagoans most at-risk have access to real food.
06 / 24
Urban Grower's Collective
The Urban Grower's Collective works to scale urban agriculture in the Chicago area and show that food can be a way out of poverty.
The Urban Grower's Collective works to scale urban agriculture in the Chicago area and show that food can be a way out of poverty.
07 / 24
Freshfarm
Convenes the local community around local food and bridges the gap between rural farmers and our urban residents. SG impact: To help combat a food desert with one grocery store for every 35,000 families, sweetgreen sponsors Sister Markets — a farmers market at a Georgetown store and a low-cost CSA distributed in South East D.C.
Convenes the local community around local food and bridges the gap between rural farmers and our urban residents. SG impact: To help combat a food desert with one grocery store for every 35,000 families, sweetgreen sponsors Sister Markets — a farmers market at a Georgetown store and a low-cost CSA distributed in South East D.C.
08 / 24
Dreaming Out Loud
Works to build a healthy, equitable food system for marginalized community members. SG impact: sweetgreen has supported development of the urban farm project at Kelly Miller Middle School — D.C.’s largest urban farm and provided proceeds from our 14th + W (Washington, D.C.) restaurant opening in February 2018.
Works to build a healthy, equitable food system for marginalized community members. SG impact: sweetgreen has supported development of the urban farm project at Kelly Miller Middle School — D.C.’s largest urban farm and provided proceeds from our 14th + W (Washington, D.C.) restaurant opening in February 2018.
09 / 24
DC Greens
DC Greens uses the levers of food education, food access, and food policy to advance food justice in the nation’s capital.
DC Greens uses the levers of food education, food access, and food policy to advance food justice in the nation’s capital.
10 / 24
Greater West Hollywood Food Coalition
The Greater West Hollywood Coalition helps the poor and homeless citizens in the community find their footing and re-enter the larger community to the best of their abilities.
The Greater West Hollywood Coalition helps the poor and homeless citizens in the community find their footing and re-enter the larger community to the best of their abilities.
11 / 24
Ventura County Community Foundation
Promotes and enables philanthropy to improve Ventura County. SG impact: On November 10th, we donated 100% of proceeds from our LA restaurants to help those affected by the devastating California wildfires and the tragedy at Borderline Bar in Thousand Oaks.
Promotes and enables philanthropy to improve Ventura County. SG impact: On November 10th, we donated 100% of proceeds from our LA restaurants to help those affected by the devastating California wildfires and the tragedy at Borderline Bar in Thousand Oaks.
12 / 24
LA Food Policy Council's Healthy Neighborhood Market Network
The Los Angeles Food Policy Council's Healthy Neighborhood Market Network empowers small business owners in low-income neighborhoods to bring good food to their communities.
The Los Angeles Food Policy Council's Healthy Neighborhood Market Network empowers small business owners in low-income neighborhoods to bring good food to their communities.
13 / 24
Hank's Mini Market
Family-owned, curated market serving South LA since 1997. SG impact: We led a one-year complete transformation of Hank's Mini Market. Their revenue grew by over 300% from 2017 to 2018.
Family-owned, curated market serving South LA since 1997. SG impact: We led a one-year complete transformation of Hank's Mini Market. Their revenue grew by over 300% from 2017 to 2018.
14 / 24
Raw Inspiration
Educates children and adults on the importance of a healthy diet, especially the value of eating fresh fruits and vegetables daily. SG impact: We donated proceeds from our La Brea restaurant (Los Angeles, CA).
Educates children and adults on the importance of a healthy diet, especially the value of eating fresh fruits and vegetables daily. SG impact: We donated proceeds from our La Brea restaurant (Los Angeles, CA).
15 / 24
Covenant House California
Covenant House provides shelter and long-term support to the homeless youth population of Los Angeles.
Covenant House provides shelter and long-term support to the homeless youth population of Los Angeles.
16 / 24
GrowNYC's FarmRoots program
GrowNYC's FarmRoots Program helps farmers get the training and assistance they need to stay viable.
GrowNYC's FarmRoots Program helps farmers get the training and assistance they need to stay viable.
17 / 24
Chef's Brigaid
A group of culinary leaders and professional chefs on a mission to transform the way students eat and think about food. SG impact: We donated proceeds from the sale of a limited edition Andre Saraiva x sweetgreen Dream Dinner Series poster.
A group of culinary leaders and professional chefs on a mission to transform the way students eat and think about food. SG impact: We donated proceeds from the sale of a limited edition Andre Saraiva x sweetgreen Dream Dinner Series poster.
18 / 24
Edible Schoolyard NYC
Works with NYC public schools to cultivate healthy students and communities through hands-on cooking and gardening education, transforming children’s relationship with food. SG impact: We donated proceeds from the opening of our Hudson Yards (NYC) restaurant in August 2018.
Works with NYC public schools to cultivate healthy students and communities through hands-on cooking and gardening education, transforming children’s relationship with food. SG impact: We donated proceeds from the opening of our Hudson Yards (NYC) restaurant in August 2018.
19 / 24
Harlem Grown
Harlem Grown inspires young people to lead healthy lives through mentorship and education in urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition.
Harlem Grown inspires young people to lead healthy lives through mentorship and education in urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition.
20 / 24
The Food Trust
Teaches nutrition education in schools, works with corner store owners to increase healthy offerings, and manages farmers markets in communities that lack affordable produce access. SG impact: financial support.
Teaches nutrition education in schools, works with corner store owners to increase healthy offerings, and manages farmers markets in communities that lack affordable produce access. SG impact: financial support.
21 / 24
Fresh Approach
Aims to create long-term change in local food systems, by connecting communities to healthy food from California farmers and expanding knowledge about food and nutrition. SG impact: We donated proceeds from the opening of our San Mateo, CA restaurant in February 2018.
Aims to create long-term change in local food systems, by connecting communities to healthy food from California farmers and expanding knowledge about food and nutrition. SG impact: We donated proceeds from the opening of our San Mateo, CA restaurant in February 2018.
22 / 24
DoSomething.org
DoSomething.org mobilizes young people across the globe for volunteerism, social change and civic action.
DoSomething.org mobilizes young people across the globe for volunteerism, social change and civic action.
23 / 24
FoodCorps
Connects kids to healthy food in school through hands-on garden, classroom and cafeteria education. SG impact: We donated proceeds from the opening of our Court St (Brooklyn, NY) restaurant in December 2018.
Connects kids to healthy food in school through hands-on garden, classroom and cafeteria education. SG impact: We donated proceeds from the opening of our Court St (Brooklyn, NY) restaurant in December 2018.
24 / 24
Replate
Matches extra food from events, offices and restaurants with communities in need. SG impact: Before the stores open, our team spends several days in training, we work with Replate to make sure this good food can do more good at shelters most in need.
Matches extra food from events, offices and restaurants with communities in need. SG impact: Before the stores open, our team spends several days in training, we work with Replate to make sure this good food can do more good at shelters most in need.

Get to know our community impact partners across the country.