Dive Brief:
- Giant Eagle has implemented its Grocery Stewardship Certification program chain wide, which incorporates operational sustainability best practices in all of its stores, according to Progressive Grocer.
- Launched five years ago, the GSC is still the only certification program to focus on both high-performance buildings and employee practices and procedures in regards to sustainability.
- Giant Eagle’s sustainability achievements were recognized by the EPA’s GreenChill, Energy Star and the Green Power Partnership programs. Additionally, it received the 2014 Clean Fuels of Ohio Certificated Three-Star Green Fleets Award and certificate of commendation for environmentally friendly contributions.
Dive Insight:
Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle first made a commitment to sustainability in 2015, and it has worked hard to lower its environmental impact and save resources in all of its stores and company headquarters. Giant Eagle is the first chain to successfully certify all of its participating investment they have put into the GSC.
Thanks to its efforts, the retailer saves nearly 6,000 tons of waste from going to landfills annually, conserves more than 45 million gallons of water and prevents nearly 260,000 tons of greenhouse gas from being released.
Grocery stores can be some of the largest corporate energy users. According to statistics from Energy Star and cited by the Alliance to Save Energy, average-sized grocery stores not using sustainability measures can spend more than $200,000 on energy and release 1,900 tons of carbon emissions. So sustainability measures can impact stores' bottom line as well.
Consumers have shown a preference for shopping in stores that focus on sustainability and care about the environment. Retailers are learning that it's a growing necessity for success. Having this kind of certification, which shows grocers how to optimize their energy, waste and water costs and processes, can help a store stand out in a crowded market, putting more commitment behind sustainability promises. According to Manomet, which operates the program, nearly 700 stores participate — a small minority of the nation's stores. There is certainly room for more stores to join the trend.