The Kroger Co. announced that its Zero Hunger, Zero Waste efforts reduced its supermarket food waste footprint — the overall food waste it produced — by 9% in 2018, creating measurable improvements in its retail operations and more environmentally-conscious associates.

"We know our customers, associates, stakeholders and investors care deeply about people and our planet," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO, in his letter to ESG stakeholders. "The world around us is changing too — a warming climate, global population growth, loss of biodiversity, water scarcity and more. These eco-realities affect our collective ability to feed people today and in the future. They are also the force behind Kroger's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste plan. We know 40% of food produced in the U.S. is thrown out, yet one in eight people in our country are food insecure — perhaps even someone we know. Redirecting just one-third of the food wasted in the U.S. every year would more than feed those struggling with hunger."

Kroger's progress was outlined in its 2019 Environmental, Social and Governance report. It's the company's 13th annual report and is available at http://sustainability.kroger.com/.