Sustainable packaging: Kroger releases sustainability report

-- Packaging Digest, 6/25/2010 12:42:12 PM

The Kroger Co. continues to make significant progress on its Sustainability Agenda, the company reports in its 2010 Sustainability Report, which was recently published online.

Kroger's report includes updates in many areas, including the company's four core priorities:

  --  Reducing its carbon footprint, especially by decreasing energy usage;
  --  Eliminating and recycling waste including reducing plastic bag use;
  --  Lowering the impact of its transportation operations; and
  --  Enabling Customers to make sustainable choices.

"The Kroger team continues to make strong progress in every area of our Sustainability Agenda and we are pleased to share our progress. We also know there is much more to do and we look forward to continuing to partner with our customers, communities and associates on this important work," said Rodney McMullen, president and chief operating officer of Kroger.

  Highlights of Kroger’s progress:

  --  Kroger has reduced its normalized carbon footprint by more than 5%
      since 2006.  Kroger's total carbon footprint has remained flat,
      despite growth in square footage, tonnage and sales.  Kroger found
      that nearly three-quarters of its carbon footprint is attributed to
      energy use and electricity the company purchases from utilities.

  --  Since 2000, Kroger has reduced overall energy consumption in its
      stores by more than 27%. That is enough electricity to power every
      single family home in Memphis, Tenn. for one year. Kroger's goal for
      2010 is to reduce our stores' energy use by 30% from our baseline year
      of 2000.

  --  Today, one of Kroger's new stores will consume 25% less energy than a
      store built in 2000.  Kroger is achieving this goal through several
      strategies, including replacing lighting with LED fixtures.  These
      lights use 75% less energy.  By the end of 2010, LED lighting will be
      installed in nearly every store.

  --  Kroger's trucks travel millions of miles each year to deliver fresh,
      wholesome food to Kroger stores. In 2009, Kroger's transportation
      efficiency (cases shipped per gallon) improved by 7%.

  --  At Kroger, Less Plastic is Fantastic.  With the help of associates and
      customers, Kroger saved more than 200 million plastic bags in 2009
      through better bagging techniques and increased use of reusable bags.

  --  Through Kroger's Plastic Recycling Program, 22.6 million pounds of
      plastic were recycled from our stores and distribution centers last
      year.  This represents a 144% increase in plastic recycling since
      2007.  Our goal for 2010 is to recycle more than 25 million pounds of
      plastic.

  --  Kroger customers continue to do their part by purchasing and using
      reusable bags.  Each of these colorful bags has the potential to
      replace 1,000 plastic bags in its lifetime.  In 2009, Kroger sold and
      provided nearly 7 million reusable bags in 2009 - potentially
      replacing about 7 billion plastic bags.

  --  In 2009, every Kroger manufacturing plant received full Global Food
      Safety Initiative (GSFI) certifications.  These standards are
      best-in-class and require constant improvement in food safety as
      measured by certified third-party auditing companies.

  --  Safety is a core value at Kroger.  As a result of safety programs that
      are a fundamental part of daily practices, Kroger stores, plants and
      distribution centers are among the safest places to work in America.
      Kroger has reduced accident rates by more than 70% over the past 14
      years.  Kroger's safety goal is zero accidents - both at work and at
      home.

  --  Kroger donated enough food to create 40 million meals to feed hungry
      families in the communities it serves in 2009.

SOURCE: The Kroger Co.

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