CASE STUDY

What’s Good for the Environment is Good for the Bottom Line

Recognizing that growing food has an impact on the environment, Heeman’s has always searched for better solutions to minimize their environmental impact, and has found that more often than not, that has led to operational efficiencies and savings at the same time.

London, ON

Retail Trade

London, ON

Retail Trade

The Project

Since humble beginnings in 1963 as a small family-run strawberry farm, Heeman’s has grown to serve London and its surrounding communities for all their gardening and berry needs. Sustainability has long been entrenched as a value in this family owned and operated business, and what drives Heeman’s is a strong desire to do business better.

Will Heeman, now the third generation of the family involved in the growing business and Chief Daymaker at Heeman’s, firmly believes that what’s good for the environment is good for the bottom line. Recognizing that growing food has an impact on the environment, Heeman’s has always searched for better solutions to minimize their environmental impact, and has found that more often than not, that has led to operational efficiencies and savings at the same time.

 

Sustainability Highlights

Reduced Water Consumption

Installed flooding benches in greenhouses to recapture 100% of the water that isn’t absorbed by the plants for reuse.

Reduced Operating Costs

Borrowed from a program at the Antarctic Research Centre to manage greenhouse upgrades and was able to double production while keeping energy use flat.

Reduced Carbon Emissions

Invested in a drip irrigation system in the berry fields in early 2000s, which was novel in Ontario at the time, to water directly into the roots. Reduced water use by 75%.

The Benefits

Reduced Water Consumption

Reduced Carbon Emissions

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