Kroger announces recycling of one million pieces of plastic packaging

02 May 2023 --- Kroger’s recycling program has achieved its milestone of recycling more than one million pieces of its Our Brands flexible plastic product packaging. The packaging was recycled through its US program in collaboration with TerraCycle.

Additionally, the American retail company announced it is offering customers more items with upcycled ingredients by adding two new Simple Truth products. Simple Truth is Kroger’s line to create more affordable grocery items that are organic, free form and natural. 

“We are continually looking for creative and innovative solutions to support our vision of creating zero-waste communities,” says Juan De Paoli, vice president of Our Brands for Kroger.

 “Our customers sharing in that commitment by recycling packaging and purchasing products made with upcycled ingredients, alongside our efforts to advance sustainability, makes important progress toward eliminating waste and creating healthy, thriving communities.”

Soft plastic shipments
The TerraCycle recycling system provides customers with free, prepaid shipping labels to mail in flexible plastic Our Brands packaging to get recycled. The grocery store says it is the “first” retailer in the world to offer a free and easy flexible plastic packaging recycling program. 

To join the program, customers must create a TerraCycle account to download a shipping label to return the plastic packaging for recycling. Any box the shipper has lying around can work for shipment. 

Kroger customers can ship their soft plastics to be recycled by TeraCycle.The brands in the Our Brands system are Simple Truth, Private Selection, Kroger Brand, Comforts, Pet Pride, Luvsome, Abound and other Kroger brands.

The recycled materials are used to construct playgrounds donated by Kroger to youth and community organizations.

Participants in Kroger’s program can earn TerraCycle Recycling Reward points by recycling. They can redeem their points in the form of a donation to a school or charity of their choice.

Kroger encourages its customers to redeem their points toward The Kroger Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation. Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social and environmental impact plan is part of the company’s commitment to helping create a more efficient and equitable food and charitable food system.

Food waste fighters
The retailer is also working on its Zero Hunger | Zero Waste mission by expanding its product selection containing upcycled ingredients. 

Kroger adds Seeded Multigrain Bread and Multigrain Quinoa Bread to the Simple Truth sustainable lineup, both Upcycled Certified by the Upcycled Food Association (UFA). Kroger joined the UFA in 2022. 

The UFA is a “first of its kind” trade association working to prevent food waste by accelerating the upcycled food economy. It comprises a network of more than 225 businesses worldwide, collaborating to empower consumers to counteract food waste with the products they purchase. 

Other Simple Truth Upcycled Certified products include Plant-Based Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix, Plant-Based Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix, Plant-Based Sugar Cookie Mix and the new Simple Truth Gluten Free Banana Bread Mix made with upcycled okara flour.

Kroger customers can find their Our Brands, Simple Truth products in-store or use Krogers delivery membership, Boost by Kroger. Kroger states their delivery service can save customers up to US$1,000 per year on fuel and grocery delivery. 

Edited by Sabine Waldeck