Kroger Hits Sustainability Milestones

[Sherman A1]

Energy savings, waste reduction and community involvement are spotlighted in The Kroger Co.’s sixth annual sustainability report, in which the grocer details how it has met annual sustainability benchmarks.

“Kroger associates embrace sustainability in their everyday business practices,” said David B. Dillon, Kroger’s chairman and CEO. “In 2011, our stores saved enough energy to power every single-family home in Columbus, Ohio, for a single year. We’re proud to have donated the equivalent of 160 million meals to local food banks through our partnership with Feeding America, placing us among the top-tier donors. We continue our commitment to help make the world a better place in a variety of ways.”

Highlights of the complete report include the following environmental and social sustainability progress in 2011:

- Kroger has saved more than 2.34 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, which equals 1.47 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. That equates to taking more than 292,000 cars off roads for one year. Today, one of Kroger's new stores will consume 30% less energy than a store built in 2000. Kroger has reduced energy consumption thanks to increased use of LED lighting, motion sensors, skylights and control systems that monitor lighting, heating and cooling and refrigeration. Kroger increased fleet efficiency by 9.75% in the past year, and by 25.5% since 2008.

- In 2011, the company’s Ralphs/Food 4 Less Division designed and built a unique resource recovery system, which is expected to convert 55,000 tons of unsold organics, annually, into renewable energy that will power its own facility. Also last year, 19 of Kroger’s 39 manufacturing plants sent “zero waste” to landfills. Kroger stores, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers recycled more than 1.1 billion pounds of corrugated cardboard and paper. Improved bagging techniques and increased use of reusable bags have prevented approximately 1 billion plastic bags from being used since 2008. In 2011, Kroger sold and provided customers with more than 5.3 million reusable bags, an average of 14,200 per day

http://www.progressivegrocer.com/top-stories/headlines/corporate-responsibility/id36180/kroger-hits-sustainability-milestones/

[Le Taz Hot]

1. While I'll never denigrate sustainability efforts

I DO have a problem with Kroger itself. Kroger is Foods Co. here in the West. They took over UNION grocery stores, kicked out the union and hired scabs who work for a portion of the union wages. They had pickets here for months and I actually talked to one of the union guys. I've not been back to that store for probably 3 years and won't step foot in it again.

[Sherman A1]

3. Agreed

I am no fan of Kroger by any means, I simply find the sustainability noted in the article to be a good thing. I believe that we should be critical of companies who do things that hurt people and workers, but also note things that are positive as well. There is no reason that they cannot be both Union & sustainable.

[Le Taz Hot]

4. No disagreement from me here.

I'm a HUGE advocate for the sustainability movement. In fact, I'm sure most DUers are sick of hearing me talk about it. But for those to whom union-busting is an issue, it's good to get that information out there as well.

[davidpdx]

2. This is what every retail chain should be doing

Not only in the US, but worldwide. I believe that Tesco has put quite a bit in to sustainability including their stores here in Korea. I've noticed more use of LED bulbs which use less electricity and last longer. This makes sense not only environmentally, but economically. My field of study is international retail and I think this would be an interesting subject to research on.