Keasbey, NJ – ShopRite is proud to be the recipient of EarthShare New Jersey’s 2019 Environmental Leadership Award, just in time for Earth Day.
EarthShare New Jersey, a 25-year-old organization that works with 400 environmental groups across the state and country, recently recognized ShopRite for its commitment to sustainability through key initiatives with customers and associates, recycling, waste reduction and the supermarket’s support of dozens of environmental groups.
ShopRite leads with sustainable initiatives that include:
- Reducing Food Waste, Increasing Food Donations
ShopRite stores donated 5,000 tons of fresh food to community food banks last year while composting and diverting another 10,000 tons of food waste from landfills.
- Associate ‘Green Teams’ Pitching In
More than 100 Green Teams in place at ShopRite stores are made up of associates who volunteer their time both in-store and in the community to improve the environment. Green team members recently partnered with volunteers and Clean Ocean Action to help clean up Sandy Hook National Recreation Area.
- Supporting Friends of the Environment
ShopRite sponsors nearly 30 regional environmental organizations including EarthShare New Jersey, Clean Ocean Action and The Audubon Society.
- Relying on Reduce-Reuse-Recycle Formula
ShopRite operates its own recycling center in Elizabeth, NJ, which has recycled over 2.5 million tons of material, including cardboard and plastic, since first opening in the late 1970s. ShopRite stores also promote bag reuse and provide recycling bins in stores for customers to return used plastic bags.
- ShopRite’s Annual Earth Day Challenge
ShopRite inspires customers and communities to clean parks, beaches and town centers by donating gloves and trash bags for the ShopRite Earth Day Challenge. This year, another 3,000 associates and ShopRite customers participated in ShopRite Earth Day Challenge community cleanups.
“Over the last decade, ShopRite stores have helped more than 50,000 people conduct community cleanups while at the same time looking for new ways to reduce our environmental footprint, and we are proud of our results on this front,” said ShopRite Spokesperson Karen Meleta. “We’ve significantly reduced our food waste by increasing our donations to area food banks and expanding our composting program. Several ShopRite stores have also received Grocery Stewardship Certification, and more stores are working toward that certification.
ShopRite stores also works with Manomet, a nonprofit organization, to help stores get grocery stewardship certification, the nation’s only grocery sustainability certification program. And many new and renovated ShopRite stores are designed to help reduce energy and water consumption through the use of energy-efficient glass doors, conservation lighting and low-flow faucets.
To find out more about ShopRite’s environmental efforts, visit https://shop.shoprite.com/sustainability
