Seven Food Retailers Get Green Rankings

NEW YORK — Seven food retailers were included by Newsweek magazine on its “Green Rankings List” of the 500 largest publicly traded companies in the U.S., ranked by environmental friendliness.

Wal-Mart Stores ranked highest, at 51, followed by Whole Foods Market (93), Kroger Co. (136), Safeway (168), Costco (169), Supervalu (241) and BJ’s Wholesale Club (246). Dell was ranked first on the list.

Newsweek worked with three environmental-research organizations to compare the companies’ environmental footprints, policies and reputations. In total, 56 retailers from various sectors, in addition to dozens of product manufacturers and service suppliers, were on the Green Rankings list.

"We are delighted to see so many retailers, product manufactures and services suppliers recognized for their commitment to greening their operations and supply chains,” said Adam Siegel, vice president of sustainability and retail operations, Retail Industry Leaders Association, Arlington, Va., in a statement. “Their work has only just begun. Industry leaders recognize that they have the influence and resources to drive corporate social responsibility and they continue to make great strides toward their sustainability goals while positioning their businesses to succeed well into the future.”