Sustainability

Some of the biggest names in retail soon will be honored in the nation’s capital when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy host an annual event to recognize Energy Star Partners of the Year.

Among this year’s award recipients are Home Depot, Sears, Best Buy, Kroger, Kohl’s, Food Lion, Staples and JCPenney. The eight retailers are among 128 total companies being honored as Energy Star Partners of the Year from the roughly 16,000 companies who partner with EPA on the broad-based energy efficiency program.

Minneapolis – Best Buy president and CEO Hubert Joly now has something in common with Frank Sinatra — you can call him “Chairman of the Board.” Joly will succeed current chairman Hatim Tyabji, who is retiring from the board effective June 9, 2015, as board chairman.

Russell P. Fradin, president and CEO of SunGard and a Best Buy Board member since April 2013, will serve as lead independent director. Tyajbi, CEO of mobile data/video company Bytemobile Inc., has served on the Best Buy board since 2008 and as chairman since 2012.

Framingham, Mass. – Staples Inc. has collected 450 million ink and toner cartridges for recycling in the U.S. since 2005, averaging more than 60 million cartridges per year for the past four years. Through the cartridge recycling program, Staples has helped recover and recycle 234 million pounds of plastics and metals, diverting roughly the weight of 8,000 full garbage trucks from landfills.

With Earth Day upon the retail industry all sorts of operators are touting accomplishments, including Staples where an impressive milestone demonstrates how a company can do well by doing good.

The company said it has collected more than 450 million ink and toner cartridges for recycling in the U.S. since 2005, averaging more than 60 million cartridges per year for the past four years. Through the cartridge recycling program, Staples has helped recover and recycle 234 million pounds of plastics and metals, diverting roughly the weight of 8,000 full garbage trucks from landfills.

Bentonville, Ark. – Walton Enterprises LLC, the corporation which holds Wal-Mart stock for the Walton family, plans to sell off some of its ownership stake in the discount giant. In a brief statement on the Wal-Mart investors webpage, Walton Enterprises said its stake in Wal-Mart has risen to about 50% as a result of stock buyback programs.

Lowe's outlined its progress in meeting its sustainability objectives in its 2014 Social Responsibility Report.

Best Buy President and Chief Executive Officer Hubert Joly has added the title of Chairman to his responsibilities at the retailer after long time board member Hatim Tyabji and several others decided to step down.

Las Vegas -- Ikea has broken ground for its future Las Vegas store.

The 351,000-sq.-ft. store will be built on 26 acres along the northern side of Interstate-215 at Durango Drive, near Sunset Road. Ikea has contracted with R&O Construction to build the project, and store plans reflect the same unique architectural design for which Ikea stores are known worldwide.

American Eagle is leveraging the star power of Brad Pitt to launch an innovative denim recycling program that will put needy people in affordable homes.

Customers can bring their old denim into any of American Eagle Outfitters’ 823 stores throughout the U.S. and Canada and receive a 20% discount on a new pair of jeans. Any collected unwearable denim will be shredded and recycled into UltraTouch Denim Insulation and other building materials for use in Make It Right’s affordable homes around the country.

Weis Markets Inc. is losing one of its longest serving executives after the company announced that the chairman of the board is stepping down.

Robert F. Weis will not stand for re-election to its board of directors at the company's annual meeting of shareholders on April 23, the company said.

"We are deeply indebted to Robert for his 69 years of leadership and tireless dedication to our company," said Harold G. Graber, Jr., a director and secretary of the company.