by Jill Larner, CalMAX Coordinator

Jean Richardson, owner and founder of Gold Mine Natural Foods in San Diego, believes in promoting health and conducting business in an environmentally responsible manner. This philosophy is evident in the company's wide range of high quality natural foods and organic products offered through its retail mail order service, and through the company's consistent use of reusable packaging and recycling activities.

In 1985 Jean Richardson borrowed $300 and started Gold Mine Natural Foods. Today, the company generates $1.3 million dollars in sales per year and employs eight staff. Gold Mine specializes in macrobiotics, a way of living that is in harmony with the natural order of the universe based on the ancient concept of Tao. She imports many of her products directly from Japan. Among the products offered are organic and heirloom foods, macrobiotic specialty items, top-quality kitchenware, books, and natural personal products.

As a mail order company, Gold Mine daily ships 50 to100 packages throughout the world. The company's shipping department developed a
collection program to reuse clean shipping cartons and packing materials from local businesses. The company saves considerable purchasing costs by reusing clean cardboard boxes and packing; in turn, participating businesses benefit by not having to pay their employees to break down boxes and from reduced waste disposal fees. The company recently relocated to a warehouse district in the Miramar area of San Diego and will market this service to local businesses as a cooperative waste reduction strategy.

CalMAX supplemented Gold Mine's reuse and recycling program in 1997 when the company placed an ongoing "wanted" listing in CalMAX for clean, reusable packing materials: polystyrene and cornstarch peanuts, loosefill, clean shredded paper, and cardboard boxes. Since that time, the company has established several ongoing exchange relationships with local businesses. For instance, The Museum Company responded to Gold Mine's CalMAX listing and now provides Gold Mine with a pick-up truckload of clean bubble wrap and packing peanuts every few weeks. Through CalMAX, Gold Mine annually receives 300 to 500 cubic yards of free packing materials but could use a lot more, up to 100 cubic yards a week.

Gold Mine's environmentally responsible philosophy is apparent throughout the company. The company prints its catalog on 100 percent postconsumer paper (when available) with soy-based inks, regularly purchases recycled-content office products, reuses and recycles paper, and composts its organic waste. The company's reuse and recycling efforts have cut its waste disposal in half and saved the company $36,000 per year. Gold Mine has been recognized by the City of San Diego as "Recycler of the Year" since 1996, and by the California Integrated Waste Management Board as a Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP) winner since 1994.

To learn more about Gold Mine Natural Food Company's reuse and recycling program, call Gary Cunningham, warehouse manager, at (858) 537-9830 or visit their Web site (see address below). Gold Mine is joining the e-revolution and will soon offer its full line of natural and organic products on line.

Gold Mine Natural Food Company
7805 Arjons Drive
San Diego, CA 92126
(800) 475-3663
sales@goldminenaturalfood.com
www.goldminenaturalfood.com

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Last updated: August 01, 2008