Press Release
Sustainability Efforts Pay Dividends for Hannaford, Environment
Feb. 23, 2015
Description
Sustainability practices at Hannaford stores annually saves the company $15 million
Details:
For Immediate Release:
Feb. 23, 2015
Contact:
Eric Blom, 207-885-3132
Eric Blom, 207-885-3132
Sustainability Efforts Pay Dividends for Hannaford, Environment
Scarborough, Maine -- A recent study by the non-profit Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences finds that sustainability practices at Hannaford Supermarkets annually saves the company $15 million, diverts 125 million pounds of waste from Northeast landfills and keeps more than 430 million pounds of greenhouse gases from being emitted.
Manomet conducted a comprehensive review of sustainability practices at Hannaford stores in 2014, examining all 184 supermarkets then owned by the company. The Massachusetts-based environmental organization granted immediate certification through its Grocery Stewardship Certification program to 179 stores for the comprehensiveness of their sustainability practices. The remaining five stores achieved provisional certification.
"Hannaford customers care about the environment and expect us to be good stewards on their behalf," said George Parmenter, manager of sustainability for Hannaford. "Certification of our stores demonstrates that our associates work every day on sustainability that is both good for the environment and good for business."
In its certification research, Manomet asked detailed questions of each store about the kind of equipment used, daily workplace practices and the handling of waste. Among the findings:
• Energy efficiency and waste-reduction efforts at the supermarkets reduced greenhouse gas emissions by as much as taking 41,892 cars off the road.
• Stores employ electric and natural-gas conservation practices that save the company more than $2 million a year.
• Water conservation efforts save at least 43.4 million gallons of water annually.
• Energy efficiency and waste-reduction efforts at the supermarkets reduced greenhouse gas emissions by as much as taking 41,892 cars off the road.
• Stores employ electric and natural-gas conservation practices that save the company more than $2 million a year.
• Water conservation efforts save at least 43.4 million gallons of water annually.
The certification process helped individual stores identify areas where they could improve aspects of their sustainability programs to do even better jobs of protecting the environment.
“The GSC is helping Hannaford systemize how they manage for operational sustainability at the store level across the chain. Hannaford has experienced exceptional employee engagement through the certification process,” said Peter Cooke, Program Manager-Grocery Stewardship Certification Program.
About Hannaford Supermarkets
Hannaford Supermarkets, based in Scarborough, Maine, operates 186 stores in the Northeast. Stores are located in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. All Hannaford stores feature Guiding Stars, America’s first storewide nutrition navigation system, and most stores have full-service pharmacies. Hannaford employs more than 27,000 associates. Additional information can be found at www.hannaford.com.
Hannaford Supermarkets, based in Scarborough, Maine, operates 186 stores in the Northeast. Stores are located in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. All Hannaford stores feature Guiding Stars, America’s first storewide nutrition navigation system, and most stores have full-service pharmacies. Hannaford employs more than 27,000 associates. Additional information can be found at www.hannaford.com.
About Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences
Manomet believes that people can live and work today in ways that will enable our world to thrive and prosper tomorrow. A nonprofit grounded in science, Manomet’s experts champion better practices in conservation, business sustainability, and science education in the U.S and internationally. By design, Manomet leads engagement by applying science to find common ground solutions to meet some of the major challenges of our time. Visit www.manomet.org for more information.
Manomet believes that people can live and work today in ways that will enable our world to thrive and prosper tomorrow. A nonprofit grounded in science, Manomet’s experts champion better practices in conservation, business sustainability, and science education in the U.S and internationally. By design, Manomet leads engagement by applying science to find common ground solutions to meet some of the major challenges of our time. Visit www.manomet.org for more information.