Sustainability

Perryville, Md. -- Ikea said Tuesday it has plugged-in the solar energy system installed at its distribution center in Perryville, Md.
 
The 768,972-sq.-ft. PV array consists of a 2,674.9-kW system, built with 18,576 panels, and is the state’s largest rooftop array.

The Ikea distribution center will produce approximately 3,397,178 kWh of clean electricity annually, the equivalent of reducing 2,397 tons of carbon dioxide, eliminating the emissions of 499 cars or powering 359 homes yearly.  
 

Bentonville, Ark. -- In its Global Sustainability Milestone Meeting on Monday, Walmart announced new commitments the retailer says will dramatically increase energy efficiency and renewables, and hasten its path toward being 100% supplied by renewable energy.

Walmart president and CEO Mike Duke outlined specific goals the company said it intends to achieve by Dec. 31, 2020:

PERRYVILLE, Md. — Ikea has plugged-in the solar energy system installed at its distribution center in Perryville, Md. 

CINCINNATI — A major initiative unveiled by Kroger could have the retailer’s suppliers scrambling to ensure palm oil used in products the retailer carries are obtained from sources who meet strict harvesting guidelines.

Kroger issued the following policy statement:

Palm oil has become the world's leading oil crop and today accounts for roughly one-third of the global vegetable oil production. This oil has grown in popularity within the food industry as a cooking oil, shortening, margarine, milk-fat replacer, and as a cocoa-butter substitute.

New York -- Walmart is eyeing greater energy efficiency and less reliance on fossil fuels as key drivers of its low cost, low price business model.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart has announced a $1.6 million donation to the Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC), a U.S. based NGO, to establish the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Academy in Bangladesh. Sida, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, is also a partner in providing support for the new Academy.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Stater Bros. has broke ground on its newest and most modern supermarket in the Redlands Village Shopping Center, which is being developed by Lewis Retail Centers.

The new Redlands Stater Bros. Supermarket will be located on the northwest corner of Lugonia and Wabash Avenues and will replace a smaller Stater Bros. Supermarket located at 1786 Lugonia Avenue. 

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — KitchenAid is partnering with Abt Electronics in Glenview, Ill. to kick off Earth Week and encourage the responsible disposal of unwanted small electric kitchen appliances. From April 18 through May 16, Abt customers will receive an instant rebate toward the purchase of a new KitchenAid small appliance when they bring in any brand of small electric kitchen appliances to the store.