Spending on sustainability is trending upward across several areas of discretionary general merchandise and consumer packaged goods, according to new research by Circana, formerly IRI and The NPD Group. As of September 2022, 40 percent of consumers reported that environmental issues impact their decision whether to shop at a specific manufacturer or retailer. It was […]
Category: Sustainability News
Sustainability news for grocery retailers and suppliers: recycling, packaging, food waste, energy and emissions.
See all our sustainability coverage in Sustainability.
Posted inSustainability News, Corporate Store News, Northeast
Hannaford Adds Conveyor Belt Cover For Sustainability Advertising
Scarborough, Maine-based Hannaford Supermarkets is using the checkout counter to amplify its new “Planet Hannaford” sustainability initiative. Checkouts across all stores are outfitted with MessageWrap printed conveyor belt covers to help increase awareness of the “Planet Hannaford” platform. Planet Hannaford promotes the retailer’s sustainability efforts under one, customer-facing banner that encourages customers to make eco-friendly […]
Posted inSustainability News, Beverage News, Southwest
Texas Nonprofit Adds Panhandle Pure As Clean Water Mission Partner
Hope Springs Water, a nonprofit based in Athens, Texas, announced it is expanding its bottled water into three more states via a partnership with Amarillo, Texas-based Panhandle Pure. The Shelby Report of the Southwest’s Jan Meade caught up with Amanda Bennett, Hope Springs Water’s director of development and administration, to learn the history of the company […]
Posted inPackaging News, Southwest, Sustainability News
Walmart Introduces Sustainable, Waste-Reducing Options
Bentonville, Arkansas-based Walmart has announced new sustainability steps to reduce the amount of packaging waste associated with online orders. This includes moving from plastic to recyclable paper mailers, right-sizing cardboard box packaging, giving customers the option to consolidate shipping on e-commerce orders, opting out of single-use plastic bags for online pickup orders and last mile delivery […]
Posted inSustainability News, Northeast
Tops ‘Totes For Change’ Aids Local Charities Through Donations
More than three years ago, Williamsville, New York-based Tops launched its Tops Totes for Change program. The program encourages shoppers to purchase a reusable bag with a charity design for $2.69 with $1 of the proceeds being donated to five local community organizations. Since its inception, Tops has raised $519,846 for area charities. These bags […]
Posted inSustainability News, Corporate Store News, Northeast
Ratio Institute Recertifies Hannaford For Operational Sustainability
Ratio Institute has announced that Hannaford Supermarkets has completed Ratio Institute’s Sustainable Food Retail Certification. The process revealed large emissions reductions and enhanced operational efficiencies for the company, which operates 186 grocery stores in New England and New York. A key component of the certification process is sustainability benchmarking at all of a food retailer’s stores. […]
Posted inProduce News, Midwest, Sustainability News
Flashfood Releases 2022 Food Waste Impact Report
Flashfood released its first impact report, “The State of Food Waste,” May 16-18 at the ReFED 2023 Food Waste Solutions Summit in St. Louis, Missouri. The report looks at the role of food waste in the current climate crisis and how reducing waste at the retail level has the potential to lower greenhouse gas emissions, […]
Posted inPackaging News, Northeast, Sustainability News
New Research Reveals ‘Bottle Bill’ Recycling Behavior
New research has been released on consumers’ shopping preferences and attitudes around drink container recycling. The report “How recycling habits impact shopping behavior” has been published by Shelton, Connecticut-based TOMRA, a global producer of “reverse vending” technology that allow people to return their empty drink cans and bottles for recycling. Reverse vending machines are used […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest, Supply Chain News, Sustainability News
NW Natural Begins Producing RNG At Tyson Foods Facility
NW Natural, a subsidiary of NW Natural Holding Co., and BioCarbN, a developer and operator of environmental infrastructure projects, have begun production at a second renewable natural gas facility, as part of a project partnership with Tyson Foods. The facility is located in Dakota City, Nebraska, with NW Natural investing about $12 million to convert […]
Posted inThe Kroger Co., Midwest, Packaging News, Sustainability News
Kroger Adds Upcycled Product, Reaches Recycling Milestone
The Kroger Co. has announced its recycling program has hit a major milestone, saving more than one million pieces of Our Brands flexible plastic product packaging. The company shared it is offering customers more items with upcycled ingredients with the addition of two new Simple Truth products to advance sustainability. “We are continually looking for creative and […]
Posted inSustainability News, Northeast, Wholesaler/Distributor News
C&S Wholesale Grocers Shares Sustainability Initiatives
Keene, New Hampshire-based C&S Wholesale Grocers has shared new sustainability plans and initiatives through a new action roadmap. For more than 104 years, it’s been the company’s legacy and passion to operate in a way that drives growth and helps others. In 2020, the company formalized its sustainability plans with a clear strategic action roadmap, […]
Posted inH-E-B, Independent Store News, Southwest, Sustainability News
H-E-B Gives 250K Reusable Bags To Customers On Earth Day
San Antonio, Texas-based H-E-B will celebrate Earth Day with its annual reusable bag giveaway, providing 250,000 reusable bags to customers. On April 22, customers who visit any H-E-B, Central Market, Joe V’s Smart Shop and Mi Tienda in Texas are eligible to receive a complimentary Earth Day bag. Since 2008, H-E-B has given out more […]
Posted inSustainability News, Southeast
Southeastern Grocers Releases 2022 ESG Report
Jacksonville, Florida-based Southeastern Grocers Inc. has released its 2022 ESG report, showcasing its progress in sustainability, community engagement and values-driven operations. The report is part of its ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability in all its operations. It is designed to provide customers, investors and stakeholders with an overview of the grocer’s approach to sustainability and […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest, Sustainability News
Fareway Celebrates 85 Years Of Green Initiatives
Boone, Iowa-based Fareway Stores Inc. has a long-standing tradition of conserving natural resources that dates back to 1938. From the beginning, its green initiatives have included recycling, reusing and reclaiming, and these protocols continue to be exercised as the company celebrates 85 years of sustainable practices. Most recently, Fareway has employed technology to help further its […]
Posted inPackaging News, Midwest, Sustainability News
Volpi Foods Introduces New Eco-Friendly Packaging
St. Louis-based Volpi Foods has announced a new Eco-Pack for the company’s line of cured meats. The new paper material used is curbside recyclable once separated from its thin liner. Additionally, the shelf life of the Eco-Pack packaging is equivalent to that of Volpi’s previous plastic packaging, so there is no increase in food waste resulting from […]
Posted inProduce News, Northeast, Sustainability News
Edible Garden Reports On Sustainability Initiatives
Belvidere, New Jersey-based Edible Garden has provided an update on its sustainability initiatives, including the company’s participation in Walmart’s Project Gigaton, an effort to remove emissions in the global value chain by 1 billion metric tons by 2030. Edible Garden’s 2022 Project Gigaton impact included: 32 metric tons of materials recycled; 200 barrels of oil […]
Posted inPackaging News, Northeast, Sustainability News
Tops Markets Introduces Sustainable Products, Services
Williamsville, New York-based Tops Friendly Markets has shared some of the ways the company is celebrating Earth Month through its sustainable initiatives and services. Potato packaging Tops has begun to transition to BioFlex bags instead of traditional plastic bags for its potatoes. BioFlex is a sustainable technology that increases the natural microbial activity in modern landfills […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Northeast, Sustainability News
UNFI’s Solar Investments Expected To Reduce Operational Costs
Providence, Rhode Island-based United Natural Foods Inc. has completed its largest solar array investment to date at its distribution center in Howell, New Jersey. The 3.2-megawatt roof mounted solar array is the company’s eighth solar installation and is three times larger than any previous installation. UNFI also plans to complete LED energy lighting upgrades at […]
Posted inSustainability News, Corporate Store News, West
Thrive Market, RePurpose Global Partner To Fight Plastic Pollution
Los Angeles-based Thrive Market has announced that its owned brands have become plastic neutral certified. The brand is partnering with rePurpose Global, a plastic action platform, to support funding the recovery of as much nature-bound plastic waste as it uses across its branded product packaging and shipping materials. Through this partnership, Thrive Market is supporting […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Sustainability News, West
Sprouts Farmers Market To Eliminate Single-Use Plastic Bags
Phoenix-based Sprouts Farmers Market will eliminate single-use plastic bags at checkout by the end of 2023. With this decision, the retailer will remove more than 200 million single-use plastic bags from circulation each year. Sprouts has eliminated single-use plastic bags at 132 California stores and will roll out this initiative company-wide in phases in April, beginning with […]