Sunbury, Pennsylvania-based Weis Markets has announced its continued progress toward reducing the company’s overall environmental impact.
The company’s progress is reported in the new 2021 Weis By Nature Sustainability Report, which details Weis Markets’ efforts to conserve resources, embrace green design and exemplify social responsibility. The company has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent since 2008 by participating in energy efficiency programs, assessing energy choices, reducing refrigerant leakage and upgrading lighting, refrigeration, transportation and other technologies.
The report highlights the company’s ongoing commitments to the communities it serves, including growing its donation program to more than $4 million and nearly 2.7 million pounds of food donated.
“The success of our sustainability efforts depends on the ongoing focus and dedication of team members throughout the company,” said Jonathan Weis, chairman and CEO of Weis Markets. “We are grateful for the associates who have worked to achieve continued progress toward our sustainability goals, and we will work together to set and achieve ambitious goals for reducing our overall environmental impact moving forward.”
To mark the release of this report, Weis Markets donated $2,000 each to six organizations that work to improve the environment throughout its market area: Howard County Conservancy in Woodstock, Maryland; Chesapeake Conservancy in Annapolis, Maryland; ClearWater Conservancy in State College, Pennsylvania; Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful; Central Pennsylvania Conservancy in Carlisle, Pennsylvania; and Susquehanna Greenway Partnership in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.
Key Weis Markets sustainability achievements in 2021 include:
- Delivered on commitments to reduce waste by:
- Diverting 56 percent of all waste, or 44,554 tons, from landfill by reusing, repurposing and recycling;
- Increasing the amount of unsold food donated to partner agencies by 200 tons compared to 2020; and
- Increasing the amount of expired or unused medications collected for safe disposal by 14 percent compared to 2020.
- Made strides in green design by:
- Achieving Environmental Protection Agency GreenChill certification in 14 stores;
- Maintaining a refrigerant leak rate of 9.3 percent, well below the industry average of 25 percent and the GreenChill program participant average of 13 percent;
- Earning the first Sustainable Food Retail Certification from the Ratio Institute;
- Increasing the number of stores with LED lighting by 27 percent compared to 2020; and
- Increasing the amount of donations to partner charities to $4 million, an 18 percent increase over 2020.
Weis Markets’ 2021 Weis By Nature Sustainability Report is available at weismarkets.com/sustainability.
