Kroger Makes Commitment to Save the Bees

Kroger is pledging to make its garden centers more environmentally friendly and protect pollinators through its plan to phase out plants that have been treated with neonicotinoids—a group of insecticides that are believed to be harmful to honey bees—by 2020.

While the majority of live plants sold in Kroger's garden center and outdoor floral selection are not treated with neonicotinoids during the growing process, retail officials said its suppliers are "actively seeking alternative options for the remaining products," adding that Kroger will work with them to ensure proper alternatives have been identified within the timeline and will track, measure and report on the progress along the way. 

The policy will include outdoor plants known to be pollinated by honey bees or known to attract honey bees.

Additionally, Kroger will rely on the expertise of the U.S Environmental Protection Agency and other scientific experts to evaluate any possible updates to its policy.

"The Kroger Co. recognizes the global honey bee population is vulnerable, with research indicating that a cause may include the use of pesticides containing neonicotinoids," Kroger officials said. "Due to the potential risk to the honey bee population, we are committing to eliminate the sourcing of live outdoor plants in our stores and garden centers that have been treated with pesticides containing these neonicotinoids by the year 2020." 

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Kroger is not the only retailer working to combat threats to pollinators and help restore populations. For example, Mom's Organic Market recently ran a program that gave customers a chance to order a queen bee and nucleus hive to their local store for pickup, as WGB previously reported.