Kroger Shares Tips for Reducing Waste

Even though Earth Day has come and gone this week, consumers can still find green guidance from the nation's largest traditional grocer.

The Kroger Co., recently recognized by the U.S. EPA for its efforts to reduce food waste, has launched a microsite – Kroger.com/earthday -- to inspire customers to live green, save money and reduce waste at home.

Kroger partnered with Seventh Generation and Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Products to provide simple tips and money-saving tricks to help fruits and vegetables stay fresh longer, to use natural cleaning methods to complete household chores, and to offer digital coupon savings by visiting the microsite.

“We are committed to reducing food waste because it is good for our business, our communities and the environment,” said Suzanne Lindsay-Walker, Kroger’s director of sustainability. “We also want to make it easy for our customers to take simple steps at home to live greener and reduce household food waste.”

Earlier this year, the EPA recognized Kroger for its leadership, innovation and education efforts to feed hungry people, protect the environment and save money through Kroger’s food recovery programs.

As part of the company's food recovery strategy in grocery stores, Kroger's Perishable Donations Partnership donated the equivalent of 43 million meals of healthy, perishable food to local Feeding America food banks last year.

Addtionally, Kroger's retail operations team has implemented an organic recycling program in 1,000 stores across the country. This program utilizes composting and animal feed to limit the amount of food going into landfills.

Kroger was the first major retailer in the U.S. to develop a clean energy production system that converts food that cannot be sold or donated into clean energy. The facility provides a quarter of the power needed to run the company's Ralphs/Food 4 Less distribution center in Compton, Calif.

Cincinnati-based Kroger operates 2,625 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry's, Harris Teeter, Jay C, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's.