Kroger has released its annual environmental, social, and governance report sharing progress on Kroger's overall strategy, called ‘Thriving Together.’
Kroger's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste commitments aim to drive positive impacts by increasing access to fresh, affordable food; responsibly stewarding natural resources by reducing emissions, waste, and food waste; and building more sustainable, equitable, and resilient food, health, and consumer goods systems, according to Kroger. Since the launch of the impact plan in 2017, the grocer has given more than $1.3 billion to hunger relief, which includes 582 million pounds of surplus fresh food rescued and donated for a total of 3 billion meals directed to communities.
"The Kroger team firmly believes in the power of our business to serve America and expand access to affordable, fresh, and healthy food," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO, in a statement. "As we reflect on the last year, I am pleased with the progress we have made toward our key environmental and social impact goals and incredibly proud of our outstanding team of associates whose dedication to ending hunger enabled us to reach a major Zero Hunger | Zero Waste milestone, donating 3 billion meals for our communities two years ahead of our stated goal."
Some of the highlights from the last year include:
• Investing over $650 million in associate wages and training.
• Directing over $336 million into charitable giving to local and national non-profit organizations.
• Rescuing and donating 106 million pounds of surplus food through Kroger's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Food Rescue program.
• Achieving a 15.2 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from a 2018 baseline due to multiple factors including incorporating more specific emissions factors for electricity consumption and reducing refrigerant emissions.
• Diverting 82 percent waste from landfills company-wide.
• Sourcing 20.4 million pounds of Fair Trade Certified ingredients for private label products, a 20.8 percent increase year-over-year.
• Exceeding roadmap milestone of transitioning 33 percent of its egg supply to a cage-free or higher-welfare supply, with the goal to reach 70 percent cage-free by 2030.
"The progress made over the last year is a true testament to the commitment of every last associate from the frontline to our merchandising, operations, supply chain teams, and beyond, who are advancing our vision to create healthy communities free from hunger and waste," said Keith Dailey, Kroger's group VP of corporate affairs and chief sustainability officer, in a statement. "We celebrate another year of progress and our associates who make it possible."
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