Kroger rolls out sustainable packaging at select Fred Meyer stores

The Kroger Co. is offering a selection of products in reusable packaging rather than in single-use plastic in certain Fred Meyer locations.

America’s largest grocery retailer is partnering with Loop, a circular reuse platform developed by TerraCycle, to provide an assortment of more than 20 products from leading consumer brands packaged in reusable containers at 25 Fred Meyer stores it owns in the Portland metro area.

Customers can purchase their Loop-ready products in refillable, reusable containers found in branded displays at the participating Fred Meyer stores. After a customer uses the products, they can return the empty packaging to the Loop collection bin located at each participating store.

Loop will then pick up the empty containers to be cleaned, refilled, and made available for purchase by a new customer. Customers will be charged a small packaging deposit upon purchase, and a full refund is given once the package is returned.

The new Loop assortment includes a combination of food and household products from a range of brands, including Arbor Teas, Cascade, Clorox, Gerber, Nature's Heart, Nature's Path, Pantene, Seventh Generation, and Stubb's, as well as Kroger's own Simple Truth brand. More brands are expected to be added to the Loop product portfolio in the coming months.

Kroger operates a variety of sustainability and anti-hunger initiatives as part of its broader Zero Hunger | Zero Waste program. In 2018, the company launched a Zero Hunger | Zero Waste effort to eliminate single-use plastic bags chainwide by 2025.

“Kroger is committed to achieving lasting positive change for billions of people and for our planet. To do this, we've developed a shared-value ESG framework that unlocks greater business value as we work collectively to create more resilient, equitable and sustainable systems," said Keith Dailey, Kroger group VP of corporate affairs and chief impact officer. "Our pioneering and exclusive partnership with Loop is an illustration of this commitment, and we are honored to be the first grocery retail partner for Loop in the U.S. and work with our brands and consumer packaged goods partners to advance our mission."

"Loop's goal has always been to grow, scale and be accessible to consumers around the world," said Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle and Loop. "With the world's largest retailers bringing Loop to physical brick and mortar locations, we are giving consumers what they've been asking for since Loop was introduced in 2019 – the ability to purchase the products they use every day in durable, reusable containers, with the convenience of shopping at their local market."

"Our focus on innovative solutions as we continue on our Zero Hunger | Zero Waste journey aligns with Loop's mission to create a convenient circular packaging platform," said Lisa Zwack, Kroger head of sustainability. "Customers are increasingly seeking out sustainable products and services that fit their lifestyle, and this collection makes it convenient. As the first grocer in America to offer these products, Kroger is pleased to take another meaningful step toward a world with zero waste."

Based in Cincinnati, Kroger operates 2,800 stores, including more than 100 stores in Southeast Texas and Louisiana, under a variety of banners across the U.S., including Kroger, Fred Meyer, Ralphs, Dillons, Smith's, King Soopers, Fry's, QFC, City Market, Owen's, Jay C, Pay Less, Baker's, Gerbes, Harris Teeter, Pick 'n Save, Metro Market, and Mariano's.