Kroger Launches ‘Sustainability Lives Here’

The Kroger Co. is celebrating Earth Month with a robust program involving events and customer engagement to help highlight easy, earth-friendly and sustainable living practices.

The program -- Sustainability Lives Here -- aligns with Kroger's corporate sustainability focus, which includes a goal of zero-waste designation by 2020. In addition to the campaign, Kroger is making a $50,000 donation to the World Wildlife Fund to support its global conservation efforts.

"At Kroger, our goal is to be a positive force for change in our communities and to conscientiously drive sustainability and innovation into the supply chain," said Jessica Adelman, Kroger's group VP of corporate affairs. "Every day, our 443,000 associates work together to serve the more than 8.5 million customers that enter our stores. We strive to make their lives easier, healthier, brighter and a little bit lighter, and make a difference."

The program’s website includes the following:

• An in-depth look at Kroger's sustainable supply chain initiatives.
• More than $60 in digital coupons targeted toward eco-friendly certifications like Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance and the Forest Stewardship Council, plus organic and natural products across departments.
• A taste of sustainability using eco-friendly products to create healthy recipes, from Shrimp and Orzo Salad to Blueberry Coconut French Toast Casserole.
• Green inspiration on how to make small changes in how we shop, prepare and store food, so customers will throw away less while eating well, saving money and keeping valuable resources from going to waste.

Kroger has a long-standing commitment to sustainable business practices, among them supporting 20 fishery improvement projects, donating more than 61 million pounds of healthy produce and proteins through its Perishable Donations Program in 2016, and diverting from landfills 78 percent of its waste.

Cincinnati-based Kroger operates 2,796 retail food stores under a variety of local banner names in 35 states and Washington, D.C.