Category Archives: Environment

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Retail marketing solutions company Firebolt Group recognized for its sustainability efforts

LONDON, 5-Jan-2021 — /EPR RETAIL NEWS/ — Firebolt Group, an innovative software, and hardware marketing solutions company for leading global brands, earned the prestigious Platinum EcoVadis Medal. The platinum medal is the highest distinction awarded by EcoVadis, an independent platform that assesses companies’ social and environmental performance. This recognition places the Firebolt Group among the top 1 percent of companies assessed by EcoVadis.

“We are thrilled to earn this distinction and to be recognized alongside an elite group of companies. Innovation is in our DNA, and our continued focus on integrating sustainability into everything we do has had a tremendous impact. I am proud of our team’s efforts to help ensure a better tomorrow,” said Philip Ochtman, CEO.

Philip was recently a guest speaker at the Sustainability Forum 2020 where he was invited to share Firebolt’s story. Firebolt’s efforts on sustainability started many years ago with their introduction of energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly LED signs, an alternative that uses 85% less power than traditional neon or fluorescent tube lighting. Additionally, Firebolt works to ensure that products can be easily dismantled and recycled at the end of the product’s life. The company also redesigned its packaging materials reducing the use of plastic drastically and having the rest recyclable. Firebolt will continue to reduce its carbon footprint with the goal of being carbon neutral by the year 2030.

Along with the EcoVadis Platinum medal, Firebolt was recently recognized as one of the Top 50 POS companies by Creative Magazine. Firebolt continues to reinvent itself. When the pandemic hit, Firebolt pivoted to manufacture PPE and ventilator parts for the GE program, and recently retooled its successful live event platform to be an online virtual event platform.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

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Water Container Recycle Problem Solved

Greenup, Kentucky, U.S.A., 2021-Jan-05 — /EPR RETAIL NEWS/ — Kentucky Pure Mineral Water comes in a 100% Biodegradable Container, so even if it DOESN’T get recycled properly, it won’t leave its mark on the earth forever the way typical plastic containers will.

Problem solved. Enough said!

Look for Kentucky Pure Mineral Water on store shelves soon!

Media contact:

River Rock Water LLC
16387 State Route 7
Greenup Ky 41144

SOURCE: EPR Network

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Marine Stewardship Council launches global campaign on sustainable seafood

Marine Stewardship Council launches global campaign on sustainable seafood

LONDON, 8-Jun-2020 — /EPR Retail News/ — High levels of concern for our oceans are driving a new wave of consumer activism, research for the Marine Stewardship Council reveals, as consumers increasingly ‘vote with their forks’ to safeguard our oceans.

The largest survey of its kind involving more than 20,000 people across 23 countries, conducted by independent insights consultancy, GlobeScan, reveals that 6 in 10 seafood shoppers (58%) already made changes to the way they choose and buy seafood in the last year in order to protect fish in our oceans.

Consumer activism includes switching to brands or products that say they help protect the oceans or fish (23%), buying different seafood species (17%) and changing where they buy seafood (15%). Eight in 10 seafood consumers (83%) are prepared to take further action in the future to safeguard our oceans.

That action is being fuelled by the worry held by nearly 1 in 3 people globally (31%) that their favourite fish won’t be available to eat in 20 years’ time. A higher proportion of 18 to 24-year-olds (37%) fear their favourite fish will be off the menu by 2040 than the over 55s (27%). Young people and parents are also more likely to have taken action in the last year1 and be willing to take action in the future to protect fish and seafood2.

For plenty more fish to be left in the sea, two thirds (65%) of seafood lovers say buying fish and seafood from sustainable sources is vital, and two fifths (41%) say they notice ecolabelled products when shopping.

Oceans contain up to 80 percent of life on earth3, with seafood providing an important source of protein to more than 3 billion people across the world4. However, a third of fisheries around the world have been fished beyond sustainable limits, and a further 60% are fished to their maximum capacity5.

This World Oceans Day (8th June), the independent, not-for-profit Marine Stewardship Council is launching a new global campaign Little Blue Label, Big Blue Future. The aim is to encourage more consumers to switch to seafood certified to its rigorous ‘blue label’ standard.

Rupert Howes, Chief Executive at the Marine Stewardship Council said: “With overfishing, climate change and pollution putting increasing pressure on our oceans, the choices we make as consumers have never been more important. This survey shows people really do care where their seafood comes from and how it is sourced.

“At a time when the seafood industry is facing unprecedented challenges as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, we can all play a part in supporting fishers committed to sustainable practises, helping to protect marine ecosystems and safeguarding our seafood supplies for future generations. Choose certified sustainable seafood by looking out for the blue MSC label.”

SOURCE: EuropaWire

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Carrefour introduces the first free range chicken reared without antibiotic treatments in Spain

Carrefour introduces the first free range chicken reared without antibiotic treatments in Spain

 

Spain, 2018-Mar-05 — /EPR Retail News/ — Carrefour Spain has launched the first free range chicken reared without antibiotic treatments in the country as part of the strategy announced by Carrefour Group to make our company a reference in food transition. This chicken is sold under the “Calidad y Origen Carrefour” (Carrefour Quality and Origin) brand.

With the highest standards of animal well-being.
The free range chicken has been reared without the use of antibiotic treatments and to the highest standards of well-being. The chickens are reared using preventative treatments based on phytotherapy, in which plant extracts are used in their feed. This type of livestock farming encourages the development of animals’ natural resistance.

In addition, the chicken is produced according to environmentally sustainable parameters. The birds are reared on farms located in Galicia (Spain) and what’s more, aspects such as vegetation, which must be indigenous, or the livestock farming model, which must be traditional, are taken into account. Also, these birds are free to roam the fields and are given 100% plant-based feed, including 70% cereals, 50% of which is corn.

For all request about the Carrefour Group (sales, financial results, governance, international,…), please contact the Carrefour Group media relations office:

. By phone:

Switchboard: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 00

For journalists: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 17

. By e-mail: presse_groupe@carrefour.com

Source: Carrefour Group

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Stockmann presents CSR review 2017

Helsinki, Finland, 2018-Mar-05 — /EPR Retail News/ —  In 2018, Stockmann focuses on inspiring the customers with even more responsible choices. The department store invests especially in the sustainability of its own brand product range and the reduction of its environmental impact. The just released CSR review 2017 tells about our efforts towards more responsible business.

Stockmann will significantly increase the use of sustainable materials such as organic cotton, lyocell and recycled fibers this year, in its own brand of clothing for women, men and children.

Even more organic cotton

The use of sustainable materials has increased rapidly as already 30% of Stockmann’s own brands 2018 spring collection is produced with sustainable materials, compared with 10% in 2017. Also Stockmann’s Casa collection with own brand home products will include linens made of organic cotton in the summer. Responsible products in the home merchandise area are featured in a pop up shop in the Helsinki department store until the beginning of April.

In 2017, already 55% of Lindex garments were made of sustainable materials, and 95% of the cotton used was sustainably produced. In 2017, Lindex launched an upcycled collection that was redesigned from Better Denim garments from previous seasons and an even more sustainable Even Better Denim collection that uses less water, energy and chemicals.

Stockmann’s own brand products and Lindex’s fashion products with less environmental impact are identified with a hangtag or given in the product information in the online store. In addition, the Design from Finland label in Stockmann’s own brand products tells that the product has been designed inFinland by Stockmann’s own Design Studio.

Carrier bag consumption declined

In 2017, Stockmann and Lindex also put emphasis in sustainable materials in carrier bags and reducing their amount. According to the Society’s Commitment to Sustainable Development, Stockmann started charging customers for carrier bags in department stores in Finland and Riga in September 2017 and in Tallinn as of 1 January 2018. The demand of carrier bags was reduced by hundreds of thousands of bags on monthly level and during the Crazy Days Campaign it was halved.

Lindex campaigned to reduce the number of carrier bags consumed with the One Bag Habit initiative, which aims to reduce the consumption of bags and increase information about the negative impacts of carrier bags. The initiative started in the stores in Sweden in June 2017 and also in the stores in Finland starting from February 2018.

Human rights principles to strengthen supply chain sustainability

Respect for human rights is fundamental in the Stockmann Group’s values and operations. In February 2018, Stockmann’s Board of Directors approved the Group’s Human Rights Principles.

Stockmann commits to carry out further human rights due diligence as required in the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, in order to identify, prevent and mitigate adverse human rights impacts resulting from or caused by our business activities. The policy complements the Stockmann Code of Conduct and is a continuum to Stockmann’s long term work on responsible, transparent and traceable supply chains.

Stockmann’s targets and progress towards more responsible business are presented in the CSR review 2017, which is part of Stockmann’s annual reporting.

More information:
Johanna Stenbäck
CSR Manager
+358 9 121 3757

Source: Stockmann

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Costa Coffee teams up with Keep Britain Tidy to support the Great British Spring Clean

Costa Coffee teams up with Keep Britain Tidy to support the Great British Spring Clean

 

LONDON, 2018-Mar-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — Costa Coffee, the nation’s favourite coffee shop brand, is gearing up for their biggest-ever litter-pick by teaming up with Keep Britain Tidy this month to support the Great British Spring Clean.

Team members from around 300 stores across the country will join a nationwide army of #LitterHeroes who have had enough of other people’s rubbish and are willing to do something about it.

The snow and ice has not put a damper on their enthusiasm and events originally planned for this weekend are now being rescheduled throughout March.

Working together, Keep Britain Tidy and Costa Coffee, through the Great British Spring Clean, are inspiring 400,000 people to get outdoors, get active and help clear up the rubbish that lies around us.

Allison Ogden-Newton, Chief Executive of Keep Britain Tidy said: “I am delighted that Costa Coffee are one of the headline partners supporting this year’s Great British Spring Clean.

“It’s great to see Costa Coffee so fully engaged with the campaign and getting staff from 300 stores out there, more than any other partner.

“By getting hundreds of team members from stores around the country participating in the Spring Clean and helping clean up their local communities, they are once again demonstrating their desire to make a real difference on the ground.’

“We continue to work closely with Costa Coffee on a range of initiatives aimed at preventing waste and reducing litter. In particular, I’m pleased to see the brand championing recent measures such as Refill and also moving to ban plastic straws.

Victoria Moorhouse, Head of Sustainability at Costa Coffee said: “We’re delighted to be supporting Keep Britain Tidy for the third year running and are proud of the commitment that team members have shown in taking part in their local events this weekend as part of the Great British Spring Clean.

“At Costa Coffee we are committed to making a positive impact in our local communities and look forward to the 12 months ahead as we continue to support Keep Britain Tidy in their ongoing activity across the UK.”

The Great British Spring Clean runs, officially, from 2nd to 4th March 2018 but due to the current extreme weather events rearranged up to 25 March will be counted as part of this year’s campaign.

For more information, to register, to find out what events are happening or to set your own up clean-up visit www.keepbritaintidy.org/gbspringclean

Founded in London by Italian brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa in 1971, Costa is now part of Whitbread PLC, which this year celebrates its 275th Anniversary as a great British business.

With over 2,200 coffee shops in the UK and more than 1,200 in 29 international markets we are the fastest growing coffee shop business in the UK and are proud to be the UK’s favourite coffee shop, having been awarded “Best Branded Coffee Shop Chain in the UK and Ireland” by Allegra Strategies for seven years running (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015 and 2016).

Looking after coffee growers is extremely important to us, which is why we established The Costa Foundation, a registered charity with the aim to relieve poverty, advance education and the health and environment of coffee-growing communities around the world. So far, The Costa Foundation has funded the building of 72 schools and improved the social and economic welfare of coffee-growing communities.

Source: Costa Coffee

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Dunkin’ Donuts to eliminate all polystyrene foam cups in its global supply chain beginning in spring 2018

Dunkin’ Donuts to eliminate all polystyrene foam cups in its global supply chain beginning in spring 2018

 

New double-walled paper cups to phase into U.S. restaurants beginning spring 2018

CANTON, MA, 2018-Feb-08 — /EPR Retail News/ — As part of its commitment to serve both people and the planet responsibly, Dunkin’ Donuts, a leading retailer of hot, brewed coffee, today (February 7, 2018) announced plans to eliminate all polystyrene foam cups in its global supply chain beginning in spring 2018, with a targeted completion date of 2020. In U.S. restaurants, Dunkin’ Donuts will replace the foam cup with a new, double-walled paper cup. The majority of Dunkin’ Donuts’ international markets are currently using paper cups, and the brand will work with its franchisees to eliminate foam cups from the remaining international markets by the 2020 goal.

The move complements Dunkin’ Donuts’ earlier commitments in the U.S. to have 80% of fiber-based consumer-facing packaging certified to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Standard by the end of this year; eliminate artificial dyes from its menu; build new, more energy-efficient restaurants; and partner with the Rainforest Alliance to source certified coffee.

The new, double-walled paper cup is already in use at Dunkin’ Donuts’ next generation concept store, which opened in mid-January in the company’s birthplace of Quincy, Mass. It will be introduced at all Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants in New York City and California in spring 2018, and will be phased in across the U.S. as supplier manufacturing capabilities ramp up.

The double-walled paper cup is made with paperboard certified to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Standard and will feature the current re-closable lid that Dunkin’ customers know and love. Like Dunkin’ Donuts’ current hot beverage offerings, the new double-walled paper cup will come in four sizes — small, medium, large and extra-large — and will be used for all of the brand’s hot beverages, including coffee, lattes, macchiatos, tea and hot chocolate. With heat retention properties equal to the company’s foam cup, the new double-walled paper cup will keep beverages hot while keeping hands cool, without the need for a sleeve.

According to Karen Raskopf, Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer, Dunkin’ Brands, “With more than 9,000 Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants in the U.S. alone, our decision to eliminate foam cups is significant for both our brand and our industry. We have a responsibility to improve our packaging, making it better for the planet while still meeting the needs of our guests. Transitioning away from foam has been a critical goal for Dunkin’ Donuts U.S., and with the double-walled cup, we will be able to offer a replacement that meets the needs and expectations of both our customers and the communities we serve.”

In 2011, Dunkin’ Donuts announced that its number one sustainability goal was to find an environmentally friendlier coffee cup. Over the past several years, the brand has worked extensively to find a suitable replacement for the foam cup that met criteria for performance, environmental impact and cost.  Dunkin’ Donuts’ transition to paper cups will remove nearly 1 billion foam cups from the waste stream annually.

Dunkin’ Donuts remains committed to sustainable packaging and will continue to explore additional opportunities to increase recycled or certified content for other consumer-facing packaging. Since 2005, the brand has made a number of important packaging improvements in the U.S., including:

  • 2005: Began sourcing a four-cup carrier made of recycled newsprint.
  • 2009: Transitioned to napkins made with 100% recycled paper and added recycled content to espresso sleeves, cup carriers and Box O’ Joe®.
  • 2014: Transitioned to bagel bags made with 100% recycled paper, saving an estimated 20 million pounds of virgin paper per year.
  • 2015: Began transition of the lids for cold beverage cups from PET to recyclable #5 polypropylene, a change that will take 500,000 pounds of material out of the waste stream per year once completed in summer 2018.
  • 2016: Issued a new Sustainable Pulp and Paper Sourcing policy with a goal to source paperboard certified to the SFI Standard for 80% of its consumer-facing fiber-based packaging by the end of 2018.

Dunkin’ Brands, the parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, continues to make important progress towards its corporate social responsibility goals, including:

·         Sustainable Building: In 2014, Dunkin’ Donuts launched DD Green™ Achievement, a program designed to help franchisees build sustainable, energy-efficient restaurants in the U.S. There are now approximately 186 DD Green Achievement restaurants around the country. Dunkin’ Brands has set a target to open 500 DD Green Achievement restaurants in the U.S. by the end of 2020. Additionally, the new next generation concept store now being introduced into the system is approximately 25% more energy-efficient than the previous restaurant model.

·         Sustainable Coffee: In 2017, Dunkin’ Donuts expanded its current work with the Rainforest Alliance to have all espresso beverages served at Dunkin’ Donuts U.S. restaurants and in approximately 16 international markets made with 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified™ beans. By the end of 2018, Dunkin’ Donuts Dark Roast Coffee will also be made with 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified™ beans. In European markets, Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants also serve Fair Trade certified espresso.

·         Sustainable Sourcing: As a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), Dunkin’ Brands continues to participate in multi-stakeholder efforts to advance sustainable palm oil sourcing and reissued its global Sustainable Palm Oil Guidelines in December 2017. In the U.S., Dunkin’ Brands has also committed to sourcing 100% of the eggs for its menu from cage-free sources by 2025 and 100% gestation crate-free pork by 2022. By the end of 2018, any chicken menu offerings in U.S. Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants will have been raised antibiotic-free.

·         Cleaner Labels: As part of the brand’s ongoing efforts to offer cleaner menu labels, Dunkin’ Donuts U.S. introduced donuts without artificial dyes in January. The brand is committed to eliminating artificial dyes from its national food and beverage menu in the U.S. by the end of 2018.

·         Menu Labeling: Dunkin’ Brands partnered with industry peers and consumer advocates in supporting a menu labeling mandate in the U.S. that provides guests with clear and consistent nutritional information when ordering.

About Dunkin’ Donuts

Founded in 1950, Dunkin’ Donuts is America’s favorite all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods. Dunkin’ Donuts is a market leader in the hot regular/decaf/flavored coffee, iced coffee, donut, bagel and muffin categories. Dunkin’ Donuts has earned a No. 1 ranking for customer loyalty in the coffee category by Brand Keys for 12 years running. The company has more than 12,500 restaurants in 46 countries worldwide. Based in Canton, Mass., Dunkin’ Donuts is part of the Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNKN) family of companies. For more information, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Michelle King
Phone: 781-737-5200
Email: press@dunkinbrands.com

Source: Dunkin’ Donuts

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K Group: All Pirkka cosmetic products are free of microplastics since 1 January 2018

K Group: All Pirkka cosmetic products are free of microplastics since 1 January 2018

 

Helsinki, Finland, 2018-Feb-08 — /EPR Retail News/ — Cosmetic products often use small microbeads that are able to pass through wastewater treatment facilities to water bodies. Microplastics are an environmental risk in waterways due to their longevity. In 2017, K Group fulfilled its commitment and eliminated microbeads from the Pirkka cosmetic products. This action was one of the actions taken by the K Group to reduce plastic waste.

“The serious harmful impacts of microplastics on the environment have been recently acknowledged. There is no current EU or domestic legislation on microplastics, but we at K Group wanted to take initiative on the matter on our own. According to the Finnish Environment Institute, approximately ten per cent of the plastics floating in the world’s oceans are microplastics, so all actions taken to reduce the amount of microplastics are important,” says K Group Product Quality Manager Timo Kivi.

In 2017, K Group fulfilled its commitment and eliminated microbeads from all of the cosmetic products in its own brands. Microbeads will also be removed in 2018 from all of the detergents in K Group’s own brands.

Microbeads have been used, for example, as abrasive and cleansing ingredients in cosmetics and detergents. Small, plastic particles less than 5 mm in size, however, are able to easily pass through wastewater treatment facilities into waterways where they are an environmental risk due to their longevity. When the plastic ends up in the water, it also causes serious harm to animals and can easily enter the human food chain.

“Microplastic-free products must also conform to our strict quality requirements. Microbeads may greatly affect the appearance and features of the product, so eliminating them meant re-evaluating the entire composition of the product. For example, eliminating microplastics from detergents affects the colour and transparency of the products,” says Timo Kivi.

K Group is actively developing new types of operational models in order to reduce plastic waste.

Plastics cause problems when they end up in water bodies and elsewhere in the environment. Together with manufacturing and its business partners, K Group is actively developing completely new types of operational models to reduce plastic waste. Tangible goals and actions have been listed in K Group’s plastics policy. K Group’s goal is that by 2025, 100% of plastic waste is recovered across all divisions.

“It is our responsibility to ensure that the customer can shop with confidence in K-stores. As the world’s most sustainable trading sector company, K Group wants to actively promote the circular economy and develop completely new types of operational models that prevent plastics from ending up in water bodies and elsewhere in the environment,” says Matti Kalervo, K Group Vice President of Corporate Responsibility.

K Group’s actions to reduce plastic waste:

  • The Green Deal agreement aims to reduce the number of plastic bags.
    K Group participates in the Green Deal agreement made by the Finnish Commerce Federation and the Ministry of the Environment, which aims to reduce the use of plastic bags through voluntary actions. K Group is committed to the EU’s target of reducing the number of plastic bags used annually per person to 40 by 2025.
  • Microplastic-free cosmetics in K Group’s own brands.
    Since 1 January 2018, the cosmetic products in K Group’s own brands are free of environmentally harmful microplastics. All K Group own-brand detergents will also be made microplastic-free in 2018. K Group’s product ranges also do not include OXO-degradable plastic bags or small bags, because they turn into micro-particles as they degrade.
  • The Pirkka ESSI circular bag encourages plastics recycling.
    The Pirkka ESSI circular bag introduced in 2017 is the first Finnish circular economy shopping bag. The bags are made of over 90 % recycled materials, around half of which is plastic packaging waste collected separately from households.
  • EcoFishBox significantly reduces plastic waste produced by the grocery trade.
    The K-food stores have successfully piloted the wood fibre-based EcoFishBoxes made by Stora Enso. Over 100 million styrofoam packages are used to package fish in the Nordic countries every year. Replacing the styrofoam packaging materials with corrugated cardboard reduces carbon dioxide emissions by a minimum of 30% throughout the value chain.
  • K Group’s gift cards were made PVC-free.
    K Group is continuously seeking new replacement material solutions for PVC plastics, which contain chlorine, stabilisers and phthalates that are considered to have significant environmental and health impacts. Since 2017, K Group’s gift cards have been made of PVC-free materials. The manufacturing materials for Plussa cards will also be made PVC-free in 2018.
  • Onninen reduces the number of plastic bags.
    Loyal customers have been distributed shopping baskets at Finland’s Onninen Express stores. The customers are able to take the baskets with them to jobsites and use them during their next visit to the store. In addition, excess cardboard boxes are available to customers and large reusable bags are offered for sale.

All of the Pirkka cosmetic products are free of microplastics since 1 January 2018. Microbeads were eliminated from the following Pirkka products in 2017:

  • Pirkka lip balm natural 4.5g 2-pack
  • Pirkka lip balm cranberry 4.5g
  • Pirkka Perheshampoo 500ml fruit
  • Pirkka Perheshampoo 500ml berry
  • Pirkka Perheshampoo 500ml citrus

K Group’s stores may still have small quantities of products available for sale for a limited time that were ordered prior to the microplastics being removed. Stores also still have a few cosmetic products available for sale that have particles with product names referring to plastics. As a part of the evaluation, it was ensured that the particles in these products are not microplastics.

Media desk:

viestinta@kesko.fi
tel.+358 10 53 50200 (Mon-Fri 8-16)

Source: Kesko Group

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Asda sets out plans on how it will reduce its use of plastic

Asda sets out plans on how it will reduce its use of plastic

 

Leeds, UK, 2018-Feb-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — Today (February 5, 2018), Asda has become the first of the “big four” supermarkets to set out detailed plans about how it will reduce its use of plastic.

The supermarket, which accounts for 15.3% of the supermarket industry in the UK has also said it wants to create a more collaborative, open environment within the retail industry to help drive innovation and “unwrap” the plastics problem.

In a document published on its website today, “Plastic Unwrapped – our pledge to use less and recycle more”, Asda has promised its customers that it will reduce the amount of plastic in its packaging by 10% this year, as well as work with its suppliers and other experts to investigate new options to replace plastic packaging and find more recyclable solutions.

What has Asda committed to doing?

  • Removing 10% of plastic from its Own Brand packaging in the next 12 months and publishing regular updates for customers to follow its progress
  • Introducing a zero profit re-usable coffee cup to give customers a great value alternative to single use cups.
  • Remove all single use cups and plastic cutlery from its offices in 2018 and all its stores and cafes by the end of 2019.
  • Phase out 5p ‘single use’ carrier bags from its shops by the end of 2018 and introduce a donation to good causes from the sale of its “bags for life” so that charities don’t lose out.
  • Work in partnership with the UK’s leading experts in packaging technology at the Leeds Beckett University Retail Institute as well as one of Asda’s biggest UK suppliers, ABP, on priority projects to develop new alternatives to plastics and more recyclable materials.
  • Creating the Asda Plastic Ideas Hub, open to all from industry to individuals, offering a £10,000 award for every scaleable, workable idea that helps Asda to tackle its top plastic challenges – such as alternatives to plastic film.

Asda’s President and Chief Executive, Roger Burnley, outlined his commitment to reducing plastic in a blog published alongside the “Plastic Unwrapped” report.

In it he says; “I truly believe that when you serve 18 million people each week and have the ability to make a difference to them, you should do it.

“I want Asda’s customers to know that they can trust us to take the lead on the issues that really matter to them. So we have challenged ourselves to look at what more we can do to reduce the amount of plastic in our business, and within our industry as a whole.”

You can read the full blog from Roger Burnley here and Asda’s ‘Plastics Unwrapped’ here.

Source: ASDA

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H&M Foundation releases its Annual Report 2017 – A Catalyst for Change

H&M Foundation releases its Annual Report 2017 – A Catalyst for Change

 

H&M Foundation’s Annual Report 2017 – A Catalyst for Change – covers the work we have achieved together with our experienced partners within our focus areas Education, Water, Equality and Planet, during 2017.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, 2018-Jan-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — During our first years, the H&M Foundation managed to achieve remarkably ambitious goals, reaching hundreds of thousands across the world with quality education, economic empowerment, clean water and sanitation while successfully pushing these issues to the global agenda.

The long-term vision for the H&M Foundation is to contribute to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, that were set by the United Nations in 2015. The H&M Foundation works with experienced partners within the focus areas and our strategy is based on three guiding principles:

  • Innovation — we approach challenges in new ways.
  • Involvement — we involve people in making a difference.
  • Impact— we seek to achieve real change.

The Annual Report 2017 covers the work of the H&M Foundation from January 1 2017 to December 31 2017.

ABOUT H&M FOUNDATION

The H&M Foundation is a non-profit global foundation, privately funded by the Stefan Persson family, founders and main owners of H&M group. Its mission is to drive long lasting, positive change and improve living conditions by investing in people, communities and innovative ideas. Through partnerships with organizations around the globe, the H&M Foundation drives change within four focus areas; Education, Water, Equality and Planet. In addition to this, the Foundation can also provide emergency relief. Since 2013, the Stefan Persson family has donated 1.3 billion Swedish krona ($177 million/€144 million) to the H&M Foundation. Visit hmfoundation.com and follow @hmfoundation on Facebook and Instagram.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Malin Björne
PR & Communications Manager, H&M Foundation
+46 70 796 39 75
malin.bjorne@hmfoundation.com

Source: H&M

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Co-op develops a fully biodegradable paper tea bag

Co-op develops a fully biodegradable paper tea bag

 

MANCHESTER, UK, 2018-Jan-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Co-op is brewing up a fully biodegradable paper tea bag, making it the first retailer to find a solution to the problem of plastic waste caused by the nation’s favourite beverage.

The convenience retailer’s famous own-brand 99 tea will be developed without polypropylene, which is an industry-wide method used to enable teabags to hold their shape. The move could save nine tonnes of plastic every year from being dumped into household rubbish and compost collections.

The Co-op, which sells around 4.6 million boxes of tea annually (around 367 million teabags) has joined forces with its tea supplier, Typhoo, and Ahlstrom-Munksjö, specialists in sustainable fibre solutions, to develop the new method of heat sealing bags which will eliminate the use of the more widely-used plastic seal.

The new bio-degradable bag which is due to undergoing rigorous testing in February, could be on shelves later this year. Intended to be rolled out across the Co-op’s entire own-label standard tea range, it will be fully compostable in food waste collections after use.

Jo Whitfield, CEO, Co-op Food, said: “Many tea drinkers are blissfully unaware that the teabag from their daily cuppa is sealed using plastic. Even though it’s a relatively small amount, when you consider the six billion cups of tea that are brewed up every year in the UK, we are looking at around 150 tonnes of polypropylene – that’s an enormous amount of accumulated plastic waste that is either contaminating food waste compost collections or simply going to landfill.

“A cup of tea is part of our national psyche, so we felt it was imperative that we fix the problem as soon as possible. We’re absolutely committed to reducing plastic in our packaging and want to ensure that tea lovers can enjoy a guilt-free brew.”

The Co-op is dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of its products and has a long-term ambition for 100% of its product packaging to be recyclable with an interim target of 80% by 2020. This includes reducing the use of unnecessary and hard-to-recycle plastic packaging and using more recycled content wherever possible.

Contact:

Craig Noonan
Head of Retail PR
Email: craig.noonan@coop.co.uk
Landline: 0161 6924284
Mobile: 07702 505 439

Source: Coop

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Kroger invests in a new anaerobic digester at its manufacturing plant in Greensburg, Indiana as part of its Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative

Company’s second anaerobic digester supports Zero Hunger | Zero Waste goals

CINCINNATI, 2018-Jan-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) announced today (Jan. 26, 2018) the successful startup of a new wastewater treatment system—an anaerobic digester—at K.B. Specialty Foods, a manufacturing plant owned and operated by the company in Greensburg, Indiana.

“Kroger recently announced its Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative, an exciting plan to end hunger in the communities we call home and eliminate waste in our company by 2025,” said Erin Sharp, Kroger’s group vice president of manufacturing. “With 33 of our 36 plants already reaching the Zero Waste manufacturing goals we established several years ago, these facilities have pioneered the way for us to achieve our moonshoot vision.”

K.B. Specialty Foods, which employs 270 associates and produces deli salads, cake icing and refrigerated side dishes, has been a Zero Waste facility since 2014, diverting more than 90 percent of waste produced from landfills each year, and is now home to the company’s second anaerobic digester.

The new $9.5 million anaerobic digester, which replaced a conventional wastewater treatment system, features a dome that captures biogas from food byproducts at the plant and converts it into energy through anaerobic digestion while also improving air quality.

“We invested in the digester because it improves our sustainability performance, supports better air quality and provides a cost savings to the company,” Ms. Sharp explained. “Once the digester is operating at its optimal level, we project it will have the capability to produce nearly 30 percent of the plant’s electricity.”

Kroger’s first anaerobic digester, which converts organic materials into renewable biogas, was installed in 2013 at the Ralphs-Food 4 Less distribution center in Compton, California.

“One of the four drivers of our company’s Restock Kroger plan is to Live Our Purpose through social impact,” Ms. Sharp added. “Our associates remain committed to reducing our impact on the environment by using natural resources responsibly and minimizing waste throughout our operations to help us achieve our Zero Waste goals.”

Follow the journey and join the conversation at thekrogerco.com and #ZeroHungerZeroWaste.

About Kroger
At The Kroger Co., we are dedicated to our Purpose: to Feed the Human SpiritTM.

SOURCE: The Kroger Co.

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Kesko ranked 31st on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World list; the only Finnish company included in the list every year

Helsinki, Finland, 2018-Jan-25 — /EPR Retail News/ — Kesko has been ranked 31st on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World list, and as the most sustainable trading sector company in the world. Kesko is the only Finnish company to be included in the list every year since it was established in 2005.

“We at the K Group have always believed in the power of sustainability and have been open-mindedly working towards it for decades. Responsible actions originated with our retailers and our comprehensive corporate responsibility work expanded from there. We wish to make sustainable choices easier for the consumers. We firmly believe that welfare in the society around us also means welfare for the K Group. We highly value this recognition and will continue our determined work towards a better society and better environment”, says Mikko Helander, Kesko’s President and CEO.

The Global 100 list is prepared by the Canada-based Corporate Knights Inc. and it is based on a global evaluation of 5,994 publicly listed companies. Companies were evaluated on a set of up to 17 environmental, social and governance indicators.

The list represents the top companies in the world in terms of sustainability. The 2018 Global 100 list was published today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Last year, Kesko ranked 25th.

Sustainability demands actions 

In autumn 2017, Kesko rose to the world’s most prestigious sustainability indices, the DJSI World and the DJSI Europe.

Also in 2017, Kesko was the first Finnish company to set science-based targets for reducing the emissions resulting from its facilities, transportation use, and supply chains. To achieve the ambitious emission reduction targets, Kesko is increasing its use of renewable energy while also improving its energy efficiency.

K Group systematically invests in renewable energy. Since the beginning of 2017, all electricity purchased by Kesko in Finland has been renewable. Twenty solar plants are already in operation on K-store rooftops.

K Group promotes circular economy with various actions. For example, inedible food waste is collected from 200 K-food stores and Kesko’s central warehouse and made into biogas, which is then used as energy in the manufacture of new Pirkka products. K Group is constantly developing new operating models for the recycling and reuse of plastics to prevent plastics from ending up in waters and nature.

Further information is available from Matti Kalervo, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility, tel. +358 50 306 4081, matti.kalervo@kesko.fi

The 2018 Global 100 list is available at www.corporateknights.com/global100/

Kesko and K-retailers form K Group, whose sales total over €13 billion. K Group is the third largest retail operator in northern Europe and it employs approximately 45,000 people. Kesko operates in the grocery trade, the building and technical trade and the car trade. Its divisions and chains act in close cooperation with retailer entrepreneurs and other partners. Kesko’s net sales are €10 billion and it employs approximately 28,000 people. Kesko has nearly 2,000 stores engaged in chain operations in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Belarus and Poland. Kesko is a listed company and its shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. The company’s domicile and main premises are in Helsinki. www.kesko.fi 

SOURCE: Kesko Corporation

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H&M group the most frequently praised company by NGOs and activists in 2017 according to SIGWATCH

SIGWATCH, the world market leader in analysis of NGO and activist campaigns, has recently published the ranking of the most praised companies by activists in 2017.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, 2018-Jan-25 — /EPR Retail News/ — Out of all companies in the world, H&M group was the most frequently praised one by NGOs and activists in 2017. This is the finding of a study published by SIGWATCH, the world market leader in analysis of NGO and activist campaigns. Since 2016, H&M group climbed from rank ten to one. At the same time, we have improved our position significantly in the ranking of most frequently criticized companies by these stakeholders. From being ranked seven to forty.

We are proud to see that H&M group’s ambitious sustainability strategy – to lead the change towards circular and renewable fashion while being a fair and equal company – has been well received by all these NGOs and activists. We are committed to continue strengthening our relations with stakeholders with our collaborative and transparent way of working.

For more information about our extensive work in sustainability, please visit sustainability.hm.com

SOURCE: H&M group

MEDIA CONTACT

Phone +46 8 796 53 00
Email groupmediarelations@hm.com

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Waitrose commits to not sell any own label food in black plastic beyond 2019

LONDON, 2018-Jan-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — And black plastic will not be used for Waitrose meat, fish, fruit and veg by end of this year

Waitrose has pledged to not sell any own label food in black plastic beyond 2019 – this is the earliest date a supermarket has committed to removing black plastic from its shelves.

Reducing the use of plastics is a top priority for Waitrose, which has already removed 65 per cent of black plastic from its fruit and vegetable packaging. The retailer will stop using black plastic for meat, fish, fruit and vegetables by the end of 2018.

Currently a great deal of black plastic used by supermarkets for food such as ready meals and puddings cannot be recycled as lasers used by waste processors cannot sense the colour effectively. This means they are not identified for recycling.

Tor Harris, Head of Sustainability and Responsible Sourcing at Waitrose, says: ‘Tackling the use of plastics across our business is a key priority for us and we have committed that all our packaging will be widely recycled, reusable or home compostable by 2025. Our work to eliminate black plastic packaging from our shops sees us taking a step towards accomplishing this.

‘Not many people realise that black plastic is tough to recycle. As a retailer dedicated to reducing the impact of plastic packaging on the environment, becoming black plastic free across all our own label products is the right thing to do.’

Notes to editors:
Other Waitrose innovations to tackle plastic use includes:

  1. Was the first supermarket to not sell any product containing microbeads from September 2016
  2. Stopped selling own-label plastic-stem cotton buds during the same time – Waitrose now exclusively sells paper-stem cotton buds
  3. In October 2017 Waitrose trialled Waitrose Duchy Organic cherry tomatoes and baby plum tomatoes in punnets made from tomato leaves and essential Waitrose cup mushrooms in pulp punnets
  4. In August 2017 the retailer launched new sandwich packaging to help increase successful recycling. Via a peelable tab the cardboard comes away easier from the plastic, enabling the cardboard to be recycled easier
  5. Waitrose’s carrier bag levy proceeds are helping to fund beach and river cleans across England over the next year, organised by the Marine Conservation Society
  6. The retailer has committed to making all our own-label packaging widely recyclable (using the widely recycled logo), reusable or home compostable by 2025.
  7. Waitrose will stop selling packs of disposable plastic straws from September 2018.

Waitrose has 352 shops in England, Scotland, Wales and the Channel Islands, including 65 convenience branches, and another 27 shops at Welcome Break locations. It combines the convenience of a supermarket with the expertise and service of a specialist shop – dedicated to offering quality food that has been responsibly sourced, combined with high standards of customer service. Waitrose also exports products to 53 countries worldwide and has seven shops which operate under licence in the Middle East. Waitrose’s omnichannel business includes the online grocery service, waitrose.com, as well as specialist online shops including waitrosecellar.com for wine and waitroseflorist.com for plants and flowers.

Waitrose was awarded the much-coveted European-wide Compassion in World Farming ‘Best Retailer Award’, Soil Association’s ‘Best Organic Supermarket Award 2017′ and The Drinks Business’ ‘Retail Buying Team of the Year Award’.

Enquries:
For more information please contact:

Laura Blumenthal
Press Officer
Telephone: 01344 826774
Email: laura.blumenthal@waitrose.co.uk

Source: John Lewis

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Lindex donates 280 000 euro to STEPS and WaterAid through the One Bag Habit initiative

Lindex donates 280 000 euro to STEPS and WaterAid through the One Bag Habit initiative

The consumption of bags in Lindex Swedish stores has decreased significant since the launch of One Bag Habit on June 1, 2017. Only about 30 per cent of Lindex customers have chosen to buy a bag which means that Lindex now to donates 280 000 euro to STEPS and WaterAid.

Göteborg, Sweden, 2018-Jan-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — One Bag Habit is a joint initiative launched by Lindex, KappAhl and H&M with the aim to reduce the consumption of bags and raise awareness of bags negative environmental impact. Just like all companies that has joined One Bag Habit, Lindex charge for bags in its Swedish stores and during the first seven months only about 30 per cent of Lindex customers bought a bag.

We are very pleased with the impact that our joint initiative have had and how it contributes to a better bag consumption. The fact that two-thirds of Lindex Swedish customers have found other, more sustainable ways, to carry home their products feels great, says Anna-Karin Dahlberg, Sustainability Manager at Lindex.

Like all companies that has joined One Bag Habit, Lindex donates the surplus from sold bags to causes that drive sustainable development, within environment or social issues. The sum from the seven first months is 280 000 euro and this money will be donated to the Swedish research program STEPS and the international organization WaterAid.

Since the launch of the initiative, several Swedish companies have joined and in the beginning of 2018, Lindex in Norway, Finland, Great Britain, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and the Baltics will also start charging for the bags.

Learn more about One Bag Habit at lindex.com

SOURCE: Lindex

MEDIA CONTACT

Corporate

Eva Jonasson, Media Relations Responsible
E-mail: press@lindex.com
Phone: +46 31 739 50 60

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McDonald’s commits to 100 percent renewable, recycled, or certified sources for its packaging by 2025

Oak Brook, IL, 2018-Jan-18 — /EPR Retail News/ — Today (Jan 16, 2018), McDonald’s announces goals to improve its packaging and help significantly reduce waste to positively impact the communities the company serves around the world.

By 2025, 100 percent of McDonald’s guest packaging will come from renewable, recycled, or certified sources with a preference for Forest Stewardship Council certification. Also by 2025, the company has set a goal to recycle guest packaging in 100 percent of McDonald’s restaurants. McDonald’s understands that recycling infrastructure, regulations and consumer behaviors vary city to city and country to country around the world, but it plans to be part of the solution and help influence powerful change.

This expands upon McDonald’s existing goal that by 2020, 100% of fiber-based packaging will come from recycled or certified sources where no deforestation occurs.

“As the world’s largest restaurant company, we have a responsibility to use our scale for good to make changes that will have a meaningful impact across the globe,” said Francesca DeBiase, McDonald’s Chief Supply Chain and Sustainability Officer. “Our customers have told us that packaging waste is the top environmental issue they would like us to address. Our ambition is to make changes our customers want and to use less packaging, sourced responsibly and designed to be taken care of after use, working at and beyond our restaurants to increase recycling and help create cleaner communities.”

To reach these goals, McDonald’s will work with leading industry experts, local governments and environmental associations, to improve packaging and recycling practices. Together they will work to drive smarter packaging designs, implement new recycling programs, establish new measurement programs and educate restaurant crew and customers.

As Tom Murray, Vice President of EDF+Business at Environmental Defense Fund noted, “Nearly three decades ago, McDonald’s and EDF teamed up to tackle solid waste and accelerate innovation in packaging.  Along the way, we pioneered a new partnership model for companies and nonprofit organizations. Today, McDonald’s continues to raise the sustainability bar by setting ambitious goals and collaborating with partners across the value chain for maximum impact.”

“McDonald’s global preference for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified materials demonstrates their far-reaching commitment to source packaging that benefits people and forests around the world,” said Kim Carstensen, director general of the Forest Stewardship Council. “The partnership between McDonald’s and FSC – the world’s most trusted certification of forests and forest products – also creates a uniquely powerful opportunity for McDonald’s to engage customers about simple ways to protect forests,” he added.

Adds Sheila Bonini, Senior Vice President, Private Sector Engagement, World Wildlife Fund, “Smarter waste management begins with improved sourcing, increased value chain collaboration and better communication with customers. Today’s announcement demonstrates McDonald’s strong leadership in developing packaging and recycling solutions at a scale that can extend the life of our natural resources and push its industry toward more sustainable practices.”

McDonald’s first began its focus on sustainable packaging nearly 25 years ago with the establishment of the groundbreaking partnership with EDF. The initiative eliminated more than 300 million pounds of packaging, recycled 1 million tons of corrugated boxes and reduced waste by 30 percent in the decade following the partnership. In 2014, the company joined WWF’s Global Forest & Trade Network program and set its fiber sourcing targets, including FSC preference for packaging made from wood fiber.

Currently, 50 percent of McDonald’s customer packaging comes from renewable, recycled or certified sources and 64 percent of fiber-based packaging comes from certified or recycled sources. Also, an estimated 10 percent of McDonald’s restaurants globally are recycling customer packaging.

“We look forward to doing more and continuing to raise the bar on what it means to be a responsible company committed to people and the planet,” DeBiase said.

About McDonald’s
McDonald’s is the world’s leading global foodservice retailer with over 37,000 locations in over 100 countries. Over 90 percent of McDonald’s restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local business men and women.

MEDIA CONTACT
Lauren Altmin, 847-542-2700
lauren.altmin@us.mcd.com

SOURCE: McDonald’s

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IKEA: all sourcing of eggs, chicken, pork, beef, dairy, and salmon will be compliant with The IKEA Food Better Programs by 2025

CONSHOHOCKEN, PA, 2018-Jan-10 — /EPR Retail News/ — The IKEA Food Better Programs frame IKEA Food’s global vision for sustainable agriculture. They consist of a set of sourcing criteria for all the major species in our supply chain with a focus on farmed animal welfare, antibiotics use and our environmental footprint at the farm level. They also consist of clear regional roadmaps for implementation. Our ambition is that all sourcing of eggs, chicken, pork, beef, dairy, and salmon will be compliant with the Better Programs by 2025.

As a first step, we are focusing on Better Chicken (see below), which identifies our minimum sourcing criteria for all broiler chicken products in our supply chain, globally. All chicken products sourced for IKEA Food will be consistent with all criteria of the IKEA Food Better Chicken Program by 2025. The regional roadmap for chicken contains key milestones in 2020 and 2025. Better Chicken will be made public in January 2018 and we will begin piloting the criteria with our suppliers to work through practical considerations. In addition to farm level criteria, we also include a provision around transport and slaughter which we will implement via the IKEA Transport & Slaughter Guidelines. Progress will be reported annually in the IKEA Health & Sustainability Report.

Better Chicken Requirements

Stocking density
Maximum stocking density of 30 kg/m2 in order to allow chickens to have enough space.

Improved illumination and normal day/night light pattern
Increased illumination & preference for natural light. The right lighting regime to have a more normal day/night light pattern over a 24 hour period. Minimum of 8 hours continuous daylight and 6 hours continuous darkness. The criteria is 50 lux in Europe, we will pilot 50 lux in North America and require 20 lux in Asia Pacific.

Flock health plan
A written plan developed in conjunction with a veterinarian to ensure long-term health and welfare of the flock. This plan should include the collection of welfare outcomes which are essential as they are used to objectively assess the effect of our new sourcing criteria on the welfare of individual chickens. For example: lameness (difficulty walking), hock burns, and activity levels etc.

Antibiotics
In line with the IKEA Food guidelines for the use of antibiotics, there will be no routine use of antibiotics by 2020 and a plan to phase out highest priority antibiotics that are critically important to human health by 2025.

Environmental enrichment
To enhance the physical and social environment animals are kept in, environmental enrichment should at a minimum include perches or platforms and pecking objects. Enrichment for broiler chickens have the potential to improve health and provide opportunities for chickens to express their important natural behaviors. Examples include: straw bales, platforms, perches, and pecking objects like brassicas or hanging wooden blocks.

Environmental conditions
Improved environmental conditions including dry and friable litter, improved air quality, and a focus on thermal comfort.

Manure Management plan
A written plan for the storage, handling, and use of livestock manure with a focus on protection of soil health and water-courses.

Non-deforestation feed
Feed that does not contribute to deforestation includes palm oil and soy, this may be achieved through verification at the farm-level or through other measures taken at the corporate level.

Natural light
Includes windows, light tubes, or open-sided sheds.

Breeds with measurably improved health and behaviour outcomes
Genetic selection for fast growth and high breast yield has resulted in an imbalance between production needs and the welfare of the animal. We aim to use breeds that are healthier, and are able to effectively express important natural behaviour while still providing good production value.

Slaughter & Transport 
Slaughter and transport criteria will be implemented through the IKEA Transport & Slaughter guidelines, including criteria for controlled atmospheric stunning to minimize stress.

Contact:
Latisha Bracy
(610) 834-0180, x5615

Source: IKEA

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BESTSELLER publishes strategic action points on post-consumer textile waste

BESTSELLER publishes strategic action points on post-consumer textile waste

BESTSELLER publishes strategic action points on post-consumer textile waste as part of the Global Fashion Agenda’s Call To Action.

BRANDE, Denmark, 2017-Dec-19 — /EPR Retail News/ — BESTSELLER is Strategic Partner in the Global Fashion Agenda, a group working to set a common direction for industry efforts on sustainability. Today, BESTSELLER announces three strategic action points on post-consumer textile waste as a response to the Call To Action put out by Global Fashion Agenda in early 2017.

The action points are considered accelerators in the transition to a circular fashion system, and BESTSELLER has committed to report on the progress annually until 2020.

CALL TO ACTION

By 2020, all BESTSELLER designers and buyers will have completed a training module on circular fashion design. “Knowledge is the foundation to address the overall topic and the first action point of ‘implementing a design strategy for cyclability’,” says BESTSELLER Sustainability Manager Dorte Rye and continues: “The second action point supports the focus on ‘increasing volume of used garments collected’. By 2020, BESTSELLER will offer and promote a used garment collection channel to consumers in selected markets together with relevant partners, it must be a setup that makes sense for all parties involved” Dorte states.

The last action point focuses on the goal of ‘Increasing use of recycled textile fibres’. BESTSELLER will conduct a pilot with two jeans styles containing recycled post-consumer cotton. The jeans are to be included in the ‘never out of stock range’ within JACK & JONES. In 2018, the pilot will be completed and results evaluated.

“It is important to note that the Call To Action is focused on post-consumer textile waste, meaning that other recycled materials already used in the BESTSELLER supply chain, such as recycled polyester from PET bottles, are not included in this context, “ Dorte stresses.

The specific products in the pilot will contain the highest possible amount of recycled post-consumer cotton to reach a high level of quality. The remaining cotton will be sourced as either Better Cotton or organic cotton.

“The published action points are part of a more circular approach in BESTSELLER, but they cannot stand alone. The coming years ahead both BESTSELLER and the entire industry as such must learn together and be very innovative to take on the challenge on creating a more circular system for fashion,” Dorte finishes.

ABOUT GLOBAL FASHION AGENDA
BESTSELLER is Strategic Partner in Global Fashion Agenda. In collaboration with other Strategic Partners (including H&M, Kering, Target, Sustainable Apparel Coalition and Li & Fung), Global Fashion Agenda aims to mobilise the global fashion system to change the way we produce, market and consume fashion. Best known for Copenhagen Fashion Summit, the world’s principal event on sustainability in fashion, Global Fashion Agenda operates as a leadership forum steering the global sustainability conversation.

As a Strategic Partner, BESTSELLER advises on the strategic direction and helps shape the operational focus of Global Fashion Agenda. Furthermore, BESTSELLER provides expert opinion and input for the development of sustainability recommendations for fashion businesses.

SOURCE: BESTSELLER

BESTSELLER COMMUNICATION
+45 99 42 16 62 / communications@bestseller.com

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Carrefour signs the 2018 French Business Climate Pledge

Carrefour signs the 2018 French Business Climate Pledge

 

Boulogne-Billancourt, France, 2017-Dec-13 — /EPR Retail News/ — Carrefour signed the 2018 French Business Climate Pledge alongside more than 90 other French companies.

Carrefour’s commitments:
-> Reduce the CO2 emissions generated by its stores throughout the world by 40% between now and 2025 (compared with 2010 levels), and by -70% by 2050. It is taking action at two levels: the primary direct sources of CO2 emissions (energy consumption and use of refrigerants), and indirect sources – the carbon footprints of the goods that it sells and their transportation in particular.

-> Invest in low CO2-emitting technologies by introducing an internal price for CO2 in investment projects.

> Reduce energy consumption by 30% by 2025
Carrefour’s Anti-waste plan involves installing closed refrigeration units, using LED lighting systems, managing intelligent meters in stores and sharing examples of best practice. A new “energy independent store” project being introduced in France will feature the most effective technologies and innovations.

-> Develop renewable energy production initiatives that involve photovoltaic panels at our stores and our logistics hubs.

-> Reduce CO2 emissions generated by coolant production by 40% by 2025.
Since 2015, Carrefour has invested €150 million: Phasing out of hydrofluorocarbons, introducing new facilities that have been in testing since 2009 that involve natural fluids (CO2), generating “clean” cold. A major commitment made within the collective framework of the Consumer Goods Forum (400 companies, 70 countries). Thanks to these initiatives, Carrefour has reduced its CO2 emissions by 45.3% since 2010.

> Reduce CO2 emissions generated by transport operations by 30% by 2025
This has involved reducing distances, phasing out empty return journeys and filling lorries more efficiently. Alternatives to diesel are being developed: 6 hybrid vehicles are currently being tested and a fleet of 200 vehicles running on biomethane will be rolled out between now and 2017. Tackling waste also means tackling pollution: no more fine particles, 90% lower CO2 emissions.

-> Include our suppliers in tackling climate change
70% of the CO2 emissions associated with a given product are generated upstream by the farming sector. Carrefour has therefore pledged within the framework of the Consumer Goods Forum – an authority that represents the consumer sector – that it is going to stop deforestation before 2020, phase out HFCs and halve the amount of food waste generated between now and 2025.

Carrefour is also involving its suppliers in agro-ecology through its “Carrefour Quality Lines” (nearly 20,000 producers throughout the world) and is taking action to reduce food waste. Its various initiatives include putting products with short shelf lives on special offer, introducing longer expiry dates, giving donations to charities (more than 142 million meals were donated in 2016), providing customers with information, making changes to the way in which fruit and vegetables are packed and testing new types of packaging.

For all request about the Carrefour Group (sales, financial results, governance, international,…), please contact the Carrefour Group media relations office:

. By phone:

Switchboard: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 00

For journalists: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 17

. By e-mail: presse_groupe@carrefour.com

Source: Carrefour Group

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ALDI receives the 2016 – 2017 “Best of the Best” award from the Environmental Protection Agency

“Best of the Best” Recognition from EPA’s GreenChill Partnership Honors Commitment to Sustainable Refrigeration in 34 Stores

Batavia, Ill, 2017-Dec-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — ALDI has received the 2016 – 2017 “Best of the Best” award from the Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenChill Partnership for its use of cutting-edge, environmentally sustainable refrigeration systems in 34 of its stores.

As part of its capital investment of $5 billion in new and remodeled stores over the next five years, ALDI is increasing its environmentally-friendly features in stores. New and remodeled stores feature environmentally-friendly building materials and energy-saving LED lighting. ALDI is committed to
continuing to reduce its refrigerant emissions and received its first GreenChill certification in 2015.

“ALDI is taking steps to reduce its environmental impact not only because our customers expect it, but because it is the right thing to do as a business. Partnerships like the one we share with GreenChill are critically important, as they enable us to work toward our goal of sustainable business operations,” said Aaron Sumida, Vice President, ALDI. “In switching to more environmentally friendly coolants, we strive to minimize the environmental impact of our refrigeration systems. This recognition from the GreenChill Partnership is a testament to our commitment.”

While the recognition typically goes to just one store, this year’s award from GreenChill acknowledges a record 34 platinum-certified ALDI stores. Platinum certification is the highest level awarded by GreenChill, and it requires each store to meet very stringent criteria.

“ALDI deserves recognition for embracing GreenChill’s environmental protection goals through its platinum-level certification of so many stores,” said Tom Land, manager of EPA’s GreenChill program. “ALDI is showing industry leadership through active participation in the GreenChill partnership and
through certification of innovative refrigeration systems.”

ALDI cares about its customers, employees, communities and its role as a business, working every day to help create a better world. In fact, the partnership with GreenChill is just one way that ALDI is working to reduce its impact on the environment. Last year, ALDI increased the number of stores with rooftop solar panels by more than 45 percent and will continue to grow its solar portfolio and use of green electricity. Additionally, ALDI has recycled nearly 100 percent of the cardboard, paper, plastic film and foil that it uses in its warehouses since 2012. Moreover, its new warehouses are constructed with sun shades and special glass to insulate and reduce heat from the sun.

GreenChill works with food retailers to reduce refrigerant emissions and decrease their impact on the ozone layer and climate change. The “Best of the Best” achievement recognizes GreenChill-certified stores demonstrating innovation in advanced refrigeration technology.

For more on Corporate Responsibility efforts at ALDI, visit http://bit.ly/1R4rsqu. To learn more about the GreenChill Partnership, visit http://www2.epa.gov/greenchill/.

About ALDI Inc.
A leader in the grocery retailing industry since 1976, ALDI operates nearly 1,700 U.S. stores in 35 states. More than 40 million customers each month benefit from the ALDI simple and streamlined approach to retailing. ALDI sells the most frequently purchased grocery and household items, primarily under its exclusive brands, which are designed to meet or exceed the national name brands on taste and quality. ALDI is so confident in the quality of its products, the company offers a Double Guarantee: If for any reason a customer is not 100 percent satisfied with any ALDI food product, ALDI will gladly replace the product and refund the purchase price. For the seventh year in a row, ALDI was recognized as a value leader among U.S. grocery stores by a Market Force Information® survey of U.S. consumers. For more information about ALDI, visit aldi.us.

About EPA’s GreenChill Partnership
EPA’s GreenChill Partnership works with supermarkets to reduce refrigerant emissions and decrease their impact on the ozone layer and climate change. The Partnership provides information and assistance t help supermarkets transition to environmentally friendlier refrigerants; reduce harmful refrigerant emissions; and adopt green refrigeration technologies, strategies, and practices. For more information on EPA’s GreenChill Partnership, including its store certification program, please visit www2.epa.gov/greenchill.

ALDI Contact:

Kelsey Williamson
GreenChill
(312) 988-2087
kwilliamson@webershandwick.com

GreenChill Contact:
Tom Land
(202) 343-9185
Land.Tom@epa.gov

Source: ALDI Inc.

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Iceland supports Greenpeace’s call for the Government to impose bottle Deposit Return Scheme

London, 2017-Dec-01 — /EPR Retail News/ — Iceland fully supports Greenpeace’s call for the Government to impose a bottle DepositReturn Scheme (DRS).

Richard Walker, Director for Sustainability at Iceland Foods, said: “Every minute, a truckload of plastic waste enters our oceans. In Britain, we are failing to recycle up to 16 million single use plastic bottles every day.

“This cannot carry on. It is causing untold damage to our oceans and wildlife. It is also a ticking time bomb for humanity, since we all ultimately depend on a healthy ocean environment for our own survival.

“Deposit Return Schemes work. In Norway theirs has led to 96% of all bottles being returned, with similar results in other countries that have adopted a DRS. Britain urgently needs to do the same.

“Introducing a DRS may well add to our costs of doing business. However, we believe it is a small price to pay for the long term sustainability of this planet. I urge all other retailers to do the right thing and follow suit.”

In addition, Iceland has offered its support by hosting a DRS reverse vending machine within a number of its stores for the Government to trial.

About Iceland Foods
Iceland is recognised as the leader in frozen food with 900 stores in the UK. The company prides itself on being a convenient and friendly place to do the family’s weekly shop, as well as to meet everyone’s daily top-up shopping needs for fresh, chilled and frozen food and groceries. Since 1970 Iceland has been proudly demonstrating to shoppers just how the Power of Frozen can deliver an extensive choice of high quality, great-tasting food from fine sources around the world at great value prices. With the Power of Frozen at its heart, Iceland naturally generates low levels of food waste. In the 1980s the company led the way in removing artificial colours, flavours and non-essential preservatives from its own label products, while in the 1990s it became the first national food retailer to remove GM ingredients from its own brand range. Its long history of environmental action includes the launch of the Kyoto range of fridges and freezers in partnership with Greenpeace in 1998, and it has recently completed a company-wide conversion to LED lighting to reduce its carbon footprint. Iceland has won multiple awards for the quality of its products and services, including being named Online Supermarket of the Year by both The Grocer and IGD in 2017. It has ranked as one of the UK’s Best Big Companies to Work For in each of the last 11 years, and was number one in both 2012 and 2014.

ENQUIRIES:
Keith Hann
Director of Corporate Affairs
01244 842228 / 07831 521870
kh@keithhann.com

Source: Iceland Foods

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NEW ZEALAND: Foodstuffs shortlisted in the Efficiency Champion Category for the 2017 Sustainable Business Network Awards

Auckland, New Zealand, 2017-Nov-29 — /EPR Retail News/ — Foodstuffs has announced today (28 November 2017) that the company is a finalist in the Efficiency Champion Category for the 2017 Sustainable Business Network Awards, thanks to some stunning results in minimising waste.

“With 122 sites signed up to the programme we can report the following highlights including an increase in the average waste diversion rate from 64% to 84%, the diversion of 27.1 tonnes from landfill per store in the month of August alone and the equivalent of more than 3.2 million meals donated to local community foodbank services in the last 12 months alone,” says Steve Anderson, Managing Director, Foodstuffs New Zealand.

“The team has really taken the mantra to heart that we are guardians of both our community and the environment.  We are making huge inroads into reducing our impact on our surroundings, all while ensuring that the most vulnerable in our communities benefit as well.”

Currently 122 sites have signed up the audited waste minimisation programme with more coming on stream in the coming months.

Anderson says, “When it comes to this issue our approach is very, very simple.  Reduce, re-use and recycle. Every team member is involved in reducing waste in all its forms – it just makes so much sense.  Waste costs.  It costs in terms of environmental and social damage, it’s expensive to remove and affects the country in which we have the privilege to live and work.”

“Our waste diversion rate is very impressive.  In terms of tonnage we’re looking at an estimated 32,300 tonnes of residual waste prevented from ending up in landfill in the last 12 months. As we extend the programme throughout the business the positive impact will be increasingly felt by the business and local Councils.  We know that many Councils are looking at zero waste targets, and we’re playing our part in that ambition,” says Anderson.

Diverted waste is made up of approximately 61% tradeable commodities (cardboard, paper and plastic film), 6% is other mixed recyclables, 29% is bakery, produce and protein for repurposing or reprocessing, and 4% is food donated for human consumption.

Foodstuffs has a number of sustainability initiatives in place extending far beyond their recent commitment to phasing out single-use plastic bags.  The business was the first to introduce 100% recyclable meat trays; Foodstuffs is a founding partner in the Soft Plastics Recycling Programme accounting for two thirds of the plastic collected; products are being reformulated to remove or reduce plastic content and packaging; the business is rolling out electric delivery vehicles, ensuring promotional materials are 100% recyclable, and installing energy efficient cooling systems which reduce the carbon footprint of a store by up to 50%.

Anderson says, “New Zealand’s future depends on all of us being committed to treading lightly.  We have been serving the community for nearly 100 years.  It’s up to us to make sure that we continue to do so sustainably, ensuring the New Zealand we know and love is here for many hundreds of years to come.”

Contact:

Foodstuffs Communications Team Phone: 0800 376 3342

Source: Foodstuffs NZ

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Kroger launches television and radio ads to boost awareness of its Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative

Kroger launches television and radio ads to boost awareness of its Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative

 

CINCINNATI, 2017-Nov-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today (Nov. 24, 2017) announced it has introduced television and radio ads in 191 media markets across the U.S. to increase awareness of its Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative, established last September.

“Yesterday millions of families came together to enjoy Thanksgiving,” said Jessica Adelman, Kroger’s group vice president of corporate affairs. “Kroger and our family of stores love being a part of America’s Thanksgiving celebrations. At the same time, we acknowledge the absurdity that one in eight people struggle with hunger while 40 percent of the food produced in the U.S. each year goes to waste. That just doesn’t make sense to us. And this season, we are grateful for our associates and trusted partners who are committed to doing something about it.”

Zero Hunger | Zero Waste is aimed at ending hunger in the communities Kroger calls home and eliminating waste across its company by 2025. Across the U.S., 42 million Americans struggle with hunger. At the same time, an estimated 72 billion pounds of food ends up in a landfill every year.

Earlier this month, Kroger launched a strategic media campaign and introduced television and radio advertisements in key markets to boost its customers’ awareness and engagement with the initiative. The campaign will run through the holiday season supported by store-level customer giving programs benefiting local food banks and hunger-relief organizations and Kroger’s year-round, industry-leading, fresh food donations program.

“Our Purpose is to Feed the Human Spirit™ by uplifting each other, our customers and our communities. Kroger is inviting everyone who is passionate about feeding people and protecting the planet to join us in helping us realize our vision of Zero Hunger | Zero Waste,” Ms. Adelman added.

Kroger has partnered with Feeding America and World Wildlife Fund to achieve its vision, and is crowdsourcing for solutions and asking communities, partners and other stakeholders for ideas, feedback and best practices.

Follow the journey and join the conversation at thekrogerco.com and #ZeroHungerZeroWaste.

About Kroger

At The Kroger Co., we are dedicated to our Purpose: to Feed The Human SpiritTM.

SOURCE: The Kroger Co.

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Carrefour Belgium invites customers to bring their own bags and reusable boxes when shopping from traditional food counters

Carrefour Belgium invites customers to bring their own bags and reusable boxes when shopping from traditional food counters

 

Belgium, 2017-Nov-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — In an initiative to provide sustainable solutions and reduce the use of packaging, Carrefour Belgium is inviting Carrefour Hypermarket and Carrefour Market customers to bring their own bulk bags and reusable boxes to package their purchases from traditional food counters (butchery, fishmonger, delicatessen). At the same time, 16 stores will be testing reusable fabric bags for fruit and vegetables. Carrefour Belgium will launch the two initiatives this week in conjunction with European Week for Waste Reduction.

The original pilot project was launched at the Carrefour Hypermarket in Bierges (near Wavre) in early November. Now – scarcely two weeks later and following a surge of positive customer reaction – the test project has been rolled out to every food counter in the Carrefour Hypermarkets and Carrefour Markets operated by Carrefour Belgium.

The principle is simple and sustainable: customers bring their bulk bags or reusable boxes with them and use them to pack the products they buy from traditional food counters. The person serving them alters the scales so as to exclude the weight of the container and affixes a price label in the same way as they would to classic plastic packaging. It is obviously vital that customers provide only clean, dry boxes suitable for foodstuffs. If food safety cannot be guaranteed, a store employee may refuse to use the container in question. To prevent cross-contamination, different types of meat, cheese and/or processed meat will always be packed in different boxes.

Test: reusable fabric bags for fruit and vegetables

Monday 20 November sees the start of another test at the Carrefour hypermarket in Bierges, this time involving the use of sturdy reusable fabric bags for fruit and vegetables. The bags are washable, sufficiently robust to be reused a number of times and accept price labels easily. They will be sold at €2.40 for five, i.e. €0.60 per bag. A week later, the bags will be available in a further 15 test stores.

The two initiatives will begin this week, to coincide with European Week for Waste Reduction.

As you will remember, Carrefour launched reusable bags at its store checkouts in 2004, and these new test projects see Carrefour Belgium going above and beyond current statutory requirements. Carrefour also reviews the packaging of 800 to 1,000 products every year, assessing it particularly with regard to sustainability. These initiatives clearly show that the Belgian retailer intends to play a pioneering role in reducing packaging by providing its customers with sustainable, practical solutions.

For all request about the Carrefour Group (sales, financial results, governance, international,…), please contact the Carrefour Group media relations office:

. By phone:

Switchboard: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 00

For journalists: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 17

. By e-mail: presse_groupe@carrefour.com

Source: Carrefour Group

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Wegmans encourages customers to properly recycle plastic bags in honor of America Recycles Day

Rochester, N.Y., 2017-Nov-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — In honor of America Recycles Day, Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is encouraging customers to properly recycle plastic bags to prevent them from polluting our waterways, getting tangled in trees and bushes, or ending up in a landfill.

There’s no denying plastic bags are useful, convenient and offer benefits for consumers and retailers alike. While more environmentally friendly than their paper counterparts, the biggest problem with plastic bags is improper disposal.

A recent survey conducted by Wegmans showed many consumers are unfamiliar with the proper way to recycle plastic bags. According to the survey, 13 percent of respondents are currently placing plastic bags in curbside recycling bins, and 45 percent were unaware that plastic bags need to be returned to a retailer or collection facility to be properly recycled.

Don’t “Curb” Your Plastic Bags
You might think all recyclable material can go in your curbside bin, but most recycling centers across the country do not accept plastic bags or other plastic wraps and films. The reason – recycling centers use high-speed mechanized sorting lines to separate paper and plastic efficiently. Plastic bags and films get caught in the machinery, causing slowdowns, and at times, bringing the entire system to a halt. For that reason, the bags and plastic films end up in landfills.

Recycle Plastic at Wegmans
Wegmans has offered plastic recycling receptacles at its stores since 1994. Customers can use these receptacles for recycling clean, dry, flexible plastic (#2 and #4), including all retailers’ plastic shopping bags, bread bags, plastic outer wraps, produce bags, and cereal box liners, to name a few. Wegmans uses the collected plastic to make new bags made from 40 percent post-consumer recycled material.

Plastic Bag Alternatives
“We know from experience we can reduce the use of single-use plastic bags by promoting reusable bags,” said Jason Wadsworth, manager of sustainability for Wegmans. “If each customer used just one reusable bag on each shopping trip, Wegmans would use 330 million fewer plastic bags each year.”

“We also know people forget their bags, or make unplanned stops at the grocery store,” continued Wadsworth. “That’s why it’s important to educate customers on the next-best option and the importance of reusing or properly recycling their plastic bags.”

Almost half of the plastic bags and film by weight used by Wegmans customers are returned for recycling. In honor of America Recycles Day, join the effort to keep that rate growing, and take small steps all year long to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is a 95-store supermarket chain with stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts. The family-owned company, recognized as an industry leader and innovator, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016. Wegmans has been named one of the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ by FORTUNE magazine for 20 consecutive years, ranking #2 in 2017.

Press Contact:

Tracy Van Auker
Media Relations Coordinator
585-429-3826
tracy.vanauker@wegmans.com

Source: Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.

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KappAhl and Ekoligens developed innovative hangers produced using recycled paper

KappAhl and Ekoligens developed innovative hangers produced using recycled paper

 

Mölndal, Sweden, 2017-Nov-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Through an exclusive partnership, KappAhl and Ekoligens AB have developed innovative hangers produced using recycled paper. Now these hangers, EcoligentPaper, are being used to display KappAhl’s Limited Edition collection.

“We are very happy to have developed a hanger that is smart, cost-efficient and sustainable alongside Ekoligens. Sharing knowledge with our partners in order to develop sustainable solutions is an important part of our ambition to make a circular fashion industry a reality,” says Fredrika Klarén, sustainability manager at KappAhl.

A renewable, economical and intelligent clothes hanger

In this collaboration, KappAhl has shared its expertise on what a hanger needs to be functional at all stages of the production chain, including questions of handling, logistics and waste in a large-scale fashion industry.

For Ekoligens, the EcoligentPaper clothes hanger is proof that a simple shift in materials can not only make for a functional and more sustainable product; it can also be a strong branding tool.

“We are very proud to be working with KappAhl, a company with such a strong focus on sustainability. Together, we are looking forward to further developing this next generation of hangers,” says Patrik Enbacka, CEO at Ekoligens AB.

The EcoligentPaper hanger is made of recycled paper from the Swedish paper industry and recycled metal parts. Every stage of the hanger’s production has a strong environmental focus, taking into account its entire life cycle. By using this innovative hanger to display its sustainable Limited Edition collection, KappAhl will save up to 1.1 tonnes of plastic.

Ekoligens AB’s business concept is to create innovative products and materials with sustainable, environmental and financial business benefits. For more information, visit www.ekoligens.se

KappAhl was founded in Gothenburg in 1953 and is a leading fashion chain in the Nordic region with 370 KappAhl and Newbie stores, including Shop Online, in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland and Great Britain. Our business idea is to offer value-for-money fashion of our own design to the many people. Sustainability-labeled fashion accounts for 53 per cent of the range. Sales for 2016/2017 totaled SEK 4.9 billion and the company has approx. 4,000 employees in nine countries. KappAhl is quoted on Nasdaq Stockholm. More information at www.kappahl.com

Download file: 171115 Unique, innovative hangers to display KappAhl’s sustainable collection

For more information:
Fredrika Klarén
Sustainability Manager
KappAhl
Tel. +46 (0)704-71 55 58
fredrika.klaren@kappahl.com

Patrik Enbacka
CEO
Ekoligens AB
Tel. +46 (0)70-610 29 08
patrik@ekoligens.se

Source: KappAhl

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EPA recognizes The Home Depot with a 2017 SmartWay Excellence Award for the fifth consecutive year

ATLANTA, 2017-Nov-10 — /EPR Retail News/ — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized The Home Depot®, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, with a 2017 SmartWay Excellence Award for the fifth consecutive year. SmartWay recognizes industry leaders in freight, supply chain, environmental performance, and energy efficiency.

A charter member of the EPA’s SmartWay program, The Home Depot utilizes a number of clean transportation best practices including truckload optimization, Greenhouse Gases (GHG) data collecting and reporting, and by requiring that all carriers be current SmartWay® partners.

In 2016, The Home Depot shipped 6,700 fewer trucks, helping to avoid 6.2 metric tons of CO2 emissions. The company audits carriers annually to ensure that data is properly submitted to the EPA.

”We are constantly looking at ways to improve our supply chain and believe that can be done while cutting carbon emissions,” said Michelle Livingstone, vice president of Transportation. “Our carriers are vital to our business and their commitment to sustainability and SmartWay’s standards benefit the entire spectrum of transportation and logistics.”

“Since 2004, EPA and the business community have collaborated through the SmartWay Partnership to reduce the economic and environmental costs of goods movement, a vital sector of our national economy,” said Christopher Grundler, director of the EPA’s Office of Transportation & Air Quality. “This year’s award-winning freight carriers, shippers and third-party logistics companies demonstrate that they can move more goods, more miles, while using less fuel. These firms are not only serving the growing needs of their – they are also doing their part to keep our environment clean and protect human health.”

For a deeper look into Home Depot’s supply chain initiatives, visit                                                           https://corporate.homedepot.com/newsroom/smartway-2017-clean-transportation. 

To learn more about the SmartWay Excellence Awards program, visit                                                       https://www.epa.gov/smartway/smartway-excellence-awardees.

About The Home Depot
The Home Depot is the world’s largest home improvement specialty retailer, with 2,283 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. In fiscal 2016, The Home Depot had sales of $94.6 billion and earnings of $8.0 billion. The Company employs more than 400,000 associates. The Home Depot’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor’s 500 index.

About SmartWay®
EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership is a market-driven initiative that empowers businesses to move goods in the cleanest, most energy-efficient way possible, while protecting public health and reducing the impacts of climate change. Demonstrating a commitment to corporate sustainability and social responsibility through SmartWay provides for a more competitive and sustainable business environment. Since 2004, SmartWay Partners have avoided emitting more than 94 million metric tons of air pollutants, while saving more than 197 million barrels of oil and $27.8 billion in fuel costs – equivalent to eliminating the annual energy use of over 12 million homes. SmartWay also contributes to cleaner air and healthier citizens by significantly reducing emissions of the pollution that contributes to smog, including fine particulate matter and nitrogen oxides.

For more information, contact:

Aaron Bastian
Corporate Communications Manager
770-384-2892
Aaron_bastian@homedepot.com

Source: The Home Depot

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KappAhl releases Annual & Sustainability Report 2017

KappAhl releases Annual & Sustainability Report 2017

 

Mölndal, Sweden, 2017-Nov-09 — /EPR Retail News/ — In the report, President and CEO Danny Feltmann summarizes the year with the words “We have confirmation that our efforts are having effect and our development work is now continuing at a sustained pace. The pace of investment will continue to be high as we adapt the store network and develop omni-channel services. In addition, Newbie Stores continues to expand in both existing markets and the UK. A guiding star in the ongoing work is the right fashion for our customer, when and how the customer chooses. KappAhl is to be be our customer’s first choice! ”

In brief the past year summes up as follows

  • Success factors including active work on price and campaign strategies and good cost control have affected the result positively. The operating margin was 9,1 per cent.
  • The Newbie brand is successful on its own. Seven new Newbie Stores opened in Sweden, Norway and Finland. It was decided that in the autumn of 2017, Newbie Store will open in Poland and the UK, which was also carried out after the end of the fiscal year.
  • Digital development is moving forward, including customer-appreciated services like Click&Collect and Shop Online in Store.
  • The continued prioritized sustainability work has been strengthened with the new Responsible Fashion sustainability strategy. The proportion of sustainably labelled fashion has increased to 53 (38) per cent. The launch of One Bag Habit together with industry colleagues reduced the use of bags by over fifty percent in the first three months, June-August.

KappAhl was founded in Gothenburg in 1953 and is a leading fashion chain in the Nordic region with 370 KappAhl and Newbie stores, including Shop Online, in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland and Great Britain. Our business idea is to offer value-for-money fashion of our own design to the many people. Sustainability-labeled fashion accounts for 53 per cent of the range. Sales for 2016/2017 totaled SEK 4.9 billion and the company has approx. 4,000 employees in nine countries. KappAhl is quoted on Nasdaq Stockholm. More information at www.kappahl.com

For more information:
Charlotte Högberg
Head Corporate Communications
Tel. 46 (0)704-71 56 31
e-mail charlotte.hogberg@kappahl.com

Source: KappAhl

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JCPenney highlights its sustainability and community efforts in its 2017 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

PLANO, Texas, 2017-Nov-09 — /EPR Retail News/ — JCPenney announced today (Nov. 8, 2017)  the release of its 2017 Corporate Social Responsibility Report, highlighting the Company’s sustainability and community efforts across its operations worldwide. The report, which details activities for fiscal years 2015 and 2016, illustrates the Company’s ongoing commitment to the highest level of corporate citizenship.

For the 2017 report, JCPenney partnered with Texas A&M University’s 180 Degrees Consulting group to learn the latest stakeholder expectations for CSR reporting. A team of six students from the group performed analysis to identify industry standards when reporting CSR data, and made suggestions to the Company based upon their findings. The group’s key recommendations drove the initial ideation of, and inspiration behind, the framework of the 2017 report, which summarizes each Company commitment using four pillars: our people, our communities, our products and our planet.

“The Golden Rule has guided every customer interaction at JCPenney for over a century, and we understand the importance of applying a similar ideology to our global efforts in social responsibility and environmental sustainability,” said Marvin R. Ellison, chairman and chief executive officer at JCPenney. “We recognize the important role we play in being a responsible employer, neighbor and community advocate, and acknowledge the significance of positively connecting with younger consumers who share these values.”

The online report outlines Company achievements in a variety of categories, including:

  • Diverse Workforce – As of 2016, more than half of the JCPenney associate population are minorities, and the progression is positively represented at all levels within the Company, including the executive team. In fact, Ellison is one of only five African-American CEO’s in the Fortune 500. Moreover, from 2013 to 2016, the percentage of ethnic minorities employed at JCPenney increased from 46 percent to 51 percent, and women have represented 80% of the total associate base since 2013.
  • Community Relations – In 2015 and 2016, JCPenney associates logged more than 67,700 volunteer hours, donating their time and skills to benefit local non-profit organizations. Associates also completed more than 800 volunteer projects in support of National Volunteer month within the same period. What’s more, through the Company’s “Change for the Better” giving campaign, JCPenney associates gave more than $3.5 million to 6,200 local non-profits across the country.
  • Responsible and Ethical Sourcing – J. C. Penney Purchasing Corporation (JCPPC) is one of the largest and most experienced importers of textiles and apparel in the United States, enabling JCPenney to purchase merchandise from nearly 2,600 domestic and foreign suppliers. The Company’s Social and Environmental Responsibility teams – located in buying and quality assurance offices around the world – work with an industry-leading third-party auditor to conduct compliance audits of factories producing JCPenney private brand apparel. In fiscal years 2015 and 2016, our third-party provider conducted over 2,000 social audits, and, in 2016, we extended this effort to include textile mills, completing over 100 assessments to help improve mill conditions.
  • Energy Conservation – In 2015, JCPenney set an aggressive energy and greenhouse gas emissions goal to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions per sq. ft. 15 percent by 2020. Just two years into the journey, JCPenney surpassed the goal by reducing emissions 19.6 percent, a decrease driven largely by behavior change and a robust Company-wide energy management system utilized in nearly 840 stores. As part of its ongoing energy management efforts, JCPenney continues a long-standing partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s ENERGY STARTM program. The Company has received ENERGY STAR’s Partner of the Year, Sustained Excellence designation for ten consecutive years, and proudly displays the ENERGY STAR logo at over 650 ENERGY STAR certified buildings throughout the Company.
  • Responsible Recycling – JCPenney is making efforts to significantly reduce waste by recycling 85% of the Company’s annual domestic waste by 2020. Through this promise, JCPenney has increased its recycling rate to 80 percent in 2016, up nine percent since 2014. Plus, the Company recycled 74,000 tons of waste in 2016 alone, while decreasing waste to landfill by 5,000 tons from 2014 to 2016. Furthermore, in 2015 and 2016, JCPenney recycled approximately 147,000 tons of waste, which equals approximately 80 percent of total waste from the Company’s operations.

Ongoing Ambitions
In 2015, JCPenney adopted a goal to reduce total water consumption across U.S. operations five percent by 2020 (2014 baseline). The Company is making strong progress toward the goal through a combination of engineered solutions and behavior change. As a result of these efforts, JCPenney has reduced domestic (in-store) water consumption by 12 percent from 2012 to 2016, and reduced landscape irrigation during the same time period by 66 percent.

For more information, please review the 2017 Corporate Sustainability Report by visiting the Company Info page under the Corporate Overview section of jcpenney.com.

About JCPenney:
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE: JCP), one of the nation’s largest apparel and home furnishings retailers, combines an expansive footprint of approximately 875 stores across the United States and Puerto Rico with a powerful e-commerce site, jcp.com, to connect with shoppers how, when and where they prefer to shop. At every customer touchpoint, she will get her Penney’s worth of a broad assortment of products from an extensive portfolio of private, exclusive and national brands. Powering this shopping experience is the customer service and warrior spirit of over 100,000 associates across the globe, all driving toward the Company’s three strategic priorities of strengthening private brands, becoming a world-class omnichannel retailer and increasing revenue per customer. For additional information, please visit jcp.com.

Media Relations:
(972) 431-3400
jcpnews@jcp.com
follow us at @jcpnews

Investor Relations:
(972) 431-5500
jcpinvestorrelations@jcpenney.com

Source: J. C. Penney Company, Inc.