Kroger initiates zero waste fund
The Kroger Co. is launching a new fund as an initiative to further its efforts in eliminating waste and hunger.
The company announced the launch of the Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Innovation Fund and its first open call to support the company's plan to end hunger in its communities and eliminate waste across the company by 2025. Kroger invites eligible innovators to submit a letter of intent now through March 4, for ideas and solutions to prevent food waste.
The company introduced its Zero Hunger | Zero Waste commitment in September 2017, pledging $10 million to support new ideas and concepts.
"Kroger's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste effort is at the forefront of shaping the national discussion around how to end hunger and eliminate waste at scale across America," said Jessica Adelman, Kroger's group vice president of corporate affairs. "Achieving Zero Hunger | Zero Waste requires creative ideas and scalable solutions to disrupt the food system as we know it. Through Kroger's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Innovation Fund, we seek to partner with creative thinkers and innovators who share our vision for a better world. Kroger's history of generosity is captured in the forward-looking mission of our Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation, and we are committing up to $1 million in grants for the first cohort to inspire and capture the innovative thinking required to fix our country's hunger-food waste paradox."
For the inaugural open call, Kroger will award grants ranging from $25,000 to $250,000 per project, prioritizing emerging technologies and ideas focused on food waste prevention. Proposals will be evaluated by the board of directors for The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation, as well as an advisory council of leaders from World Wildlife Fund, Feeding America, ReFED, Kroger Technology, and 84.51°. Criteria include alignment with Kroger's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste plan, potential for positive impact in U.S. communities served by the Kroger Family of Companies, ease of implementation, geography and measurability and scalability.