Kroger Suppliers Commit to Cut Food Waste in Half as Part of 10x20x30 Global Initiative
The Kroger Co. today announced 16 of its major suppliers to date have joined the groundbreaking 10x20x30 initiative to identify and reduce food loss and waste from their supply chains. Kroger joins more than 10 of the world’s largest food retailers and providers as a founding member of 10x20x30, committing to engage at least 20 suppliers in a holistic approach to halve food loss and waste by 2030.
Kroger’s goal is more ambitious: achieve zero food waste in its own retail grocery operations by 2025. In the past two years, the company has decreased total food waste generated in stores by 13 percent and improved its food waste diversion rate by almost 18 percent, as part of its Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative which began in 2017.
Through the 10x20x30 initiative, Kroger’s partner suppliers have committed to a 50 percent reduction target in their own operations, to measure and publish their food loss and waste inventories and to create actionable strategies to reduce waste.
Participating suppliers to date include:
- Amy’s
- Chobani
- Clif Bar & Company
- Danone North America
- Dayka & Hackett, LLC
- Driscoll’s
- Flowers Foods, Inc
- Grimmway Farms
- High Liner Foods
- Hormel Foods
- Impossible Foods
- Pacific Coast Producers
- Rich Products Corporation
- Taylor Farms
- Tillamook County Creamery Association
- Unilever
“Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste plan includes ambitious goals that require partnership, collaboration and innovation,” said Keith Dailey, Kroger’s group vice president of corporate affairs and chief sustainability officer. “We’re proud to partner with these leading suppliers that are committed to bold action, and we encourage other producers and CPG brands to join us. It will take all of our collective action to realize our vision of a future free of hunger and waste.”
10x20x30 was launched at the 2019 annual food loss and waste summit hosted by Champions 12.3, a voluntary coalition of executives from business, government and civil society committed to raising ambition and motivating action to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 12.3. SDG Target 12.3 calls for a 50 percent reduction in food loss and waste worldwide by 2030. The coalition inspired and helped develop 10x20x30, with the World Resources Institute as co-secretariat of Champions 12.3 and lead provider of technical assistance to the 10x20x30 retailers and suppliers. This week’s 10x20x30 announcements coincide with the 2020 UN General Assembly and Climate Week NYC, further amplifying collective efforts to achieve the SDGs.
“The past several months have demonstrated just how much meals matter, especially when they’re prepared and enjoyed with family and friends,” said Dailey. “As customers continue to rediscover their passion for making food and gathering around the dinner table, Kroger will be there to provide food inspiration and easy ways to join our mission to create a world with zero hunger and zero waste.”
Suppliers interested in joining Kroger’s 10x20x30 initiative can contact the company’s sustainability team at zerohungerzerowaste@kroger.com.