I personally wouldn’t think the words “sustainability” and “grocery store” fit in the same sentence, but sure enough, thanks to Kroger – they do. In fact, Kroger has a history of sustainable practices.
2014
In a statement on their website, Kroger states: “Kroger has a commitment to environmental sustainability. We strive to reduce our impact on the environment by using natural resources responsibly and minimizing waste in all of our operations.”
In 2014 alone, Kroger stores across the country reported a 35% energy usage reduction, 35 million pounds of plastics recycled, and a 37% increase in fleet productivity.
The Plastic Bag Debate
There has been a lot of noise made recently about plastic grocery bags and their overall environmental impact. According to Kroger’s report, plastic bag recycling is up 10% from last year. That doesn’t sound like much, but since 2011, their overall plastic bag recycling rates are up 33%. The company said in the sustainability report, “Plastic bags are collected and recycled into products such as new recycled plastic bags, landscape materials and plastic composite lumber.” Their “Bag2Bag” program encourages shoppers to return their used shopping bags at kiosks located in their stores.
The Impact
Considering that Kroger has over 2,600 stores in 34 states, this isn’t a small effort by any means. This is an example of sustainability practices being enacted in a market that needs it badly. It’s always refreshing to see a company step up and take action towards a greener impact without legislation or pressure from any organization. They do it because it’s a part of their corporate culture. I for one, take those kinds of things into consideration when shopping.
Does a more sustainable company factor into your shopping decisions? Maybe it should.