Kroger Sets New Packaging Goals

The Kroger Co. said this week announced intentions to transition to 100% recyclable, compostable or reusable packaging for its private brands by 2030, as it begins setting new long-range targets for sustainability.

The initiative was introduced in the retailer’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report published this week, which outlined improved performance on its previously announced Zero Hunger Zero Waste social impact plan and other sustainability commitments.

“As the largest grocery retailer in America, Kroger is committed to being a force for good in the communities we serve,” Keith Dailey, group VP of corporate affairs and chief sustainability officer of the Cincinnati-based grocer, said in a statement. “Our purpose—to feed the human spirit—continues to guide how we operate our business, care for our communities and deliver value to all our stakeholders. We're proud of our progress in 2019 and remain committed to our vision of a future with Zero Hunger Zero Waste.”

The new sustainable packaging goals include all of Kroger’s “Our Brand” products. The company said it would complete a baseline “product packaging footprint” to fully understand its current impacts; increase recycled content in packaging so its portfolio includes at least 10% recycled content; and increase awareness among consumers about to how to manage its product packaging at the end of its life.

Packaging is among 12 “Tier 1” material issues most important to both Kroger and its stakeholders, the ESG report revealed, based on interviews and surveys with more than 100 internal and external stakeholders. Also gaining “Tier 1” priority this year was data privacy and cybersecurity. Key new topics include ESG governance; ethics and compliance; and agricultural practices, the report added.

Food safety remains the top overall Tier 1 topic, as it was in 2018, although Kroger said it anticipated issues such as associate health and safety and disaster resiliency to gain importance in a post-COVID world.

In 2019, Kroger’s progress on packaging included collaborative partnerships, including becoming the exclusive U.S. grocery retail partner for Loop, TerraCycle's revolutionary reusable packaging platform. Kroger’s new greenhouse gas commitment includes reducing its enterprisewide emissions by 30% on a 2018 baseline, by 2020.

Also new to its goals, Kroger said it would aim to reduce greenhouse gases by 30% by 2030 and commit to eliminating tropical deforestation in raw materials and products it sources into its manufacturing facilities and meat cases by 2025.

The report is published here.