Kroger: Energy consumption reduced by 30% since 2000

Cincinnati -- In its fifth annual sustainability report, released Tuesday, The Kroger Co. said it continues to meet its benchmarks, including reducing in-store energy consumption by 30%.



"In 2010, Kroger stores saved enough energy to power the city of Fort Worth for a full year,” said Rodney McMullen, president and COO of Kroger. “We sent less waste to landfills, recycled more plastic, and provided our customers with five million more reusable bags.”



Some highlights of Kroger's sustainability progress in 2010, besides the overall energy reduction, include: Kroger has saved more than 2.2 billion kilowatt hours, which equals 1.41 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. That equates to taking more than 275,000 cars off roads for one year. It completed its first wind energy project, as two wind turbines installed at Turkey Hill Dairy in Lancaster, Pa., will supply 25% of the dairy's annual electricity needs.



As well, Kroger's manufacturing plants reduced the amount of waste sent to landfills by 30% since 2009 -- a 22 million-pound reduction. And improved bagging techniques and increased use of reusable bags saved an additional 159 million plastic bags.



Read the full report at kroger.com/sustainability.