Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste reduces food waste footprint

The Kroger Co. today announced that the company's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste efforts reduced its supermarket food waste footprint — the overall food waste it produced — by 9% in 2018, reducing both food waste and the greenhouse gases resulting from it.

The success of the Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative was just one of many highlights of the retailer’s 2019 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report released today. In addition:

• Kroger achieved a 13% improvement in supermarket food waste diverted from landfill, moving from 27% diversion in 2017 to 40% in 2018.

• Kroger supermarkets have saved more than 2 billion kWh, placing the company well ahead of its 40% electricity savings goal by 2020.

• Kroger reduced the amount of plastic resin in Our Brands packaging by 9.1 million pounds so far — well on its way to reaching its 10-million-pound goal by 2020.

• Kroger subsidiary Ralphs announced the installation of a photovoltaic solar power array at its 550,000-square-foot automated distribution center in Paramount, Calif., providing 50% of the facility’s total electricity needs.

The solar power array at Ralphs' automated distribution center in Paramount, Calif., is the largest solar energy project to date for parent company Kroger, featuring more than 7,000 solar panels.

“We know our customers, associates, stakeholders and investors care deeply about people and our planet,” said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO, in his letter to ESG stakeholders. “The world around us is changing, too — a warming climate, global population growth, loss of biodiversity, water scarcity and more. These eco-realities affect our collective ability to feed people today and in the future. They are also the force behind Kroger's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste plan. We know 40% of food produced in the U.S. is thrown out, yet one in eight people in our country are food insecure — perhaps even someone we know. Redirecting just one-third of the food wasted in the U.S. every year would more than feed those struggling with hunger.”

Related:Grocery chains make strides in sustainability

In addition to its environmental initiatives, the ESG report also focused on improvements in Kroger’s social and governance campaigns. Among those highlights:

• Kroger associates rescued 10% more food from its stores, plants and distribution centers — or 100 million pounds of food that went to feed food-insecure families in America.

• The Kroger Co. Foundation partnered with World Wildlife Fund to expand its "Food Waste Warriors" educational program to nine U.S. cities, teaching students and school staff about where food comes from and what happens when it is thrown away.

• Through Feed Your Future, Kroger associates can receive up to $3,500 annually (and up to $21,000 over the course of their career) toward continuing education no matter what stage they are in in their education journey.

Related:For mission-based brands, doing good is good business

• Kroger directed more than $328 million in charitable giving — in food and funds — to its communities in 2018. About $192 million of this amount focused on ending hunger.

• Kroger spent more than $2.6 billion with women- and minority-owned businesses in 2018.

• Through Feed Your Future, Kroger associates can receive up to $3,500 annually (and up to $21,000 over the course of their career) toward continuing education no matter what stage they are in in their education journey.

“Today doing the right thing for society and being environmentally sustainable are table stakes for corporations,” said Jessica Adelman, Kroger's group vice president of corporate affairs and chief social impact officer. “That's why we're proud to go above and beyond with our Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social impact plan. Our progress in each of the environmental, social and governance aspects of sustainability are a direct result of these innovative and intentional efforts.”