Stop & Shop takes aim at fuel emissions

Stop & Shop has launched a reduced emissions fuel program at 105 of its gas stations in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Called Restore, the program will calculate tailpipe emissions each time customers fill up and then offsets the emissions via investments in certified carbon reduction projects such as reforestation and renewable energy initiatives like wind and solar power. Stop & Shop fuel customers don’t need to sign up for anything; the offsets are made automatically.

In kicking off Restore this week, Stop & Shop said the program is the first of its kind in New England. The carbon-reduction efforts can lessen the effects of tailpipe emissions by up to 30%, according to the Quincy, Mass.-based supermarket chain, part of Ahold Delhaize USA.

“We’re committed to running our business sustainably and responsibly,” Stop & Shop President Gordon Reid said in a statement. “Together with our customers, we’re reducing our environmental impact and helping the communities we serve. We’re proud to be a part of the solution when it comes to climate change, and to be leading the way in terms of fuel emissions reductions in our industry.”

GreenPrint, an Atlanta-based environment technology company, is providing real-time audited reporting for Restore, including details on carbon emissions, offsets purchased and retired, and project investments.

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Stop & Shop and GreenPrint officials formally launched Restore on Monday and Tuesday in events at the grocer’s fuel station stores in Hadley, Mass., and Berlin, Conn. Two more kickoff events for the program are slated for Wednesday and Thursday at Stop & Shop gas station locations in Johnston, R.I., and Dedham, Mass. In addition to a commitment to plant 100,000 trees along with Arbor Day Foundation, Stop & Shop will be planting trees in local communities across its footprint in recognition of Restore’s launch, as well as making donations to community partners to further reduce the impact of fuel emissions.

“We are excited to work with Stop & Shop to help them meet the needs of today’s consumers in a purpose-driven way with an eye on a better tomorrow through more sustainable practices,” commented Pete Davis, founder and CEO of GreenPrint. “Through the Restore program, Stop & Shop is differentiating their brand. They are empowering consumers to make better choices at the pump while giving back to the local communities they serve and making a positive impact on the environment.”

Last year, GreenPrint also partnered with Giant Food Stores, another Ahold Delhaize USA grocery chain, on an emissions-reduction program to shrink the carbon footprint at the retailer’s fuel locations. For each gallon of gas customers pump at Giant and Martin’s fuel stations, GreenPrint will mobilize a network of local volunteers to conduct certified, proportional carbon-offset projects, such as creating local greenscapes or planting trees. The companies said the projects neutralize carbon emissions by up to 30%. Giant/Martin’s currently operates more than 100 fuel stations.

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