Weis Markets shows sustainability progress

Sunbury, Pa.-based Weis Markets has reduced its carbon emissions by more than 20% since 2008, according to the company’s recent 2018 Sustainability Report: Rooted in Success, Growing Our Future.

The report details the company’s sustainability progress in 2018 as it continued to implement innovative measures to reduce truck fleet fuel consumption, increase facility energy efficiencies, reduce refrigerant emissions and divert waste from landfills.

“Our sustainability program continues to make steady progress, focusing on five key areas: reducing our climate impact; the green design and improvement of our stores, facilities, and logistics; protecting our resources; working with local farmers and food processors; and being socially responsible,” said Weis Markets Chairman and CEO Jonathan Weis. “We achieved these results thanks to the hard work of our sustainability team and the many associates who help implement our program throughout our store base, distribution center and support facilities.”

Key Weis Markets sustainability achievements in 2018 include:

• Increasing food donations to more than 860 tons through the company’s expanding partnership with Feeding America. The donations are a key component of its commitment as a U.S. Food Loss & Waste 2030 Champion.

• Being recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) GreenChill program, which encourages reducing refrigerant usage to address environmental impacts on the ozone layer and climate. In 2018 the company’s Carlisle Street store in Hanover, Pennsylvania, was honored as the first store in GreenChill history to achieve 10 consecutive certifications, and its store in Randolph, New Jersey, was honored as the company’s first-ever Platinum certified facility for its transcritical CO2 system.

• Converting 34 stores from fluorescent to LED lighting, reducing electricity consumption by 300,000 kWh annually per store.

• Diverting 39,341 tons of waste from landfills.

• Working with National Gypsum Company, a local building products manufacturer, to recycle 28,180 tons of cardboard.