Sustainability

SUNBURY, Pa. — Two Weis stores containing a new, environmentally efficient design have earned environmental certifications awards from the GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership, a voluntary Environmental Protection Agency alliance with food retailers to reduce refrigerant emissions and decrease their impact on the ozone layer and climate change, the grocer announced Wednesday.

Walmart held another one of its sustainability milestone meetings this week and webcast the event live from the auditorium at its home office. By the time the hour-and-a-half event was over the senior executives who participated had delivered a clear and consistent message around the company’s wide-ranging sustainability efforts.

San Bernardino, Calif. -- In celebration of Earth Day, Stater Bros. said that six of the company's newest supermarkets in California have earned the prestigious EPA GreenChill Gold Award for meeting tough environmental standards and using ozone-friendly refrigerants. The certifications are good for one year. Four of the locations also received GreenChill Gold Awards in 2011 (Grand Terrace, Moreno Valley, Cathedral City and Carlsbad).

Stater Bros. is the only Southern California grocer to have six stores that are certified at the Gold Level.

Deerfield, Ill. – Walgreens affirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability, innovative technology and renewable energy initiatives during Earth Week 2012. Currently, the drugstore chain has 134 solar panel installations at its stores, distribution centers and corporate headquarters.

CINCINNATI — Ahead of Earth Day, a number of retailers have been touting their sustainable efforts. The latest example is Kroger, which has released a video highlighting some of its accomplishments and showcasing some of its future goals.

The video features both store associates and customers who speak about how much Kroger has already done--from reducing waste and plastic bag use--and what the company can do more of--from making it easier to find organic products to donating more fresh produce to charity.

NEW YORK — Ann Inc., the parent company of Ann Taylor and Loft, has launched AnnCares360, a program in partnership with Good360, the nonprofit leader in product philanthropy. The program will facilitate the donation of available displays, marketing items, and fixtures to local charities that support women and children.

Through the program, all Ann Inc. stores can enter valued, reusable goods into a tracking system that will link to Good360's online product donation marketplace and its network of more than 26,000 charities.

West Bridgewater, Mass. -- Five Shaw’s Supermarkets in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, have reached a major environmental milestone in the company’s “zero waste” program by diverting over 90% of all store waste from local landfills.

The environmental impact of the five stores has been significant:

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Stater Bros. is making strides on the sustainability front, with six of its newest supermarkets earning the EPA GreenChill Gold Award for meeting tough environmental standards and using ozone friendly refrigerants. These GreenChill store certifications are valid for one year, and four of these Stater Bros. Supermarkets also received GreenChill Gold Awards in 2011.