Kroger achieved 76% waste diversion in 2018

As part of its Zero Hunger/Zero Waste initiative, Cincinnati-based The Kroger Co. recently announced it accomplished 76% waste diversion in 2018 by redirecting 2 million tons from landfills across its 35-state footprint. Kroger also reported that it increased year-over-year food waste diversion by 37%, achieved Zero Waste operations in 34 of its 36 manufacturing plants and increased total recycling by 19%.

Zero Hunger/Zero Waste is Kroger’s vision to eliminate waste and end hunger in the communities it serves by 2025. Kroger began the program in 2017.

In battling hunger, Kroger said it donated $328 million to local communities in 2018, including more than $192 million in food and funds. It also provided a total of 316 million meals to communities across the country, and donated 100 million pounds of safe food that could no longer be sold in its retail stores or shipped from its distribution centers and manufacturing plants to Feeding America food banks.

“Zero Hunger/Zero Waste is shaping the national discussion around how to end hunger and eliminate waste across America," said Jessica Adelman, Kroger's group vice president of corporate affairs.

Kroger has also committed to eliminate single-use plastic grocery bags from its family of stores by 2025. As of April 1, Kroger's QFC division in the Pacific Northwest no longer offers customers single-use plastic bags.