Giant Food and Divert Inc. have reached a milestone of about 80 million pounds of unsold food products processed since 2022, the equivalent of mitigating more than 37,000 metric tons of CO2e.
“Partnering with Divert has allowed us to make a tangible difference in reducing food waste and supporting our communities,” said Diane Hicks, SVP of operations at Giant Food.
“Our commitment to sustainability is reflected in every facet of our operation. We’re proud to lead the way in transforming how the industry handles unsold food, and we’re excited to continue driving positive change for our customers, our communities and the environment.”
In June 2022, Divert launched a recycling program with Giant Food to reduce the amount of unsold food products going to landfill and to transform that material into beneficial products. The collaboration includes all 163 stores under the Giant Food banner across Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Washington, D.C.
For food that cannot be marked down in stores or donated, Divert leverages anaerobic digestion to process the material into carbon-negative renewable energy and nutrient-rich soil amendment – recouping the value of the food and advancing circularity.
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In addition to these environmental milestones, Giant Food has significantly increased its community impact by donating more than 6.1 million pounds of food in 2024 – equivalent to about 5.1 million meals. Through Giant Food’s Meat the Needs Program and Fresh Food Recovery, each Giant Food store partners with local food recovery partners such as churches, soup kitchens, local food banks and Feeding America to donate wholesome food for quick distribution.
Together with the implementation of Divert’s recycling program and Giant Food’s food donations, the company prevented more than 35 million pounds of food from being wasted in 2024.
“Divert is proud of the meaningful impact we have achieved through our long-standing partnership with Ahold Delhaize USA and Giant Food, true trailblazers for sustainability in the food retail industry,” said Ryan Begin, CEO and co-founder at Divert Inc.
“Together, we are advancing a circular economy and transforming how we manage our resources. Not only is this an incredible milestone for Divert and Giant Food, but it’s also an illustration of what’s possible when we collaborate, commit to change and reimagine our food systems for the better.”