Kroger Recognized in Newsweek's 2016 Green Rankings

CINCINNATI, June 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced that is has earned a place in the 2016 Newsweek Green Rankings.

The Newsweek Green Rankings assess the 500 largest publicly-traded companies in the United States and the 500 largest publicly-traded companies globally on overall environmental performance.

"We appreciate being named in Newsweek's 2016 Green Rankings for Kroger's efforts to drive sustainability and innovation in the supply chain," said Jessica Adelman, Kroger's group vice president of corporate affairs. "Kroger's improvement of 68 places on the list is a good indicator of our sustainability progress, but we are not done taking steps to reduce our impact on the environment."

Highlights of Kroger's Sustainability Progress

• Kroger is reducing its carbon footprint. Kroger's aggressive work in energy management has enabled them to reduce overall energy consumption in Kroger stores by 35%. Even though Kroger continues to grow in size and sales, its emissions stated on a (metric ton CO2e)/1,000 sf. basis continues its long-term decline.      
• Moving toward the EPA's Zero Waste threshold of 90%, in all Kroger retail locations. One of Kroger's key sustainability priorities is moving its facilities toward "zero waste". Whether it is diverting waste from landfills, reducing packaging, recycling plastic bags, or donating safe, perishable foods to food banks, Kroger is increasing recycling rates ad finding cost-effective and responsible alternatives for its waste.         
• Kroger is feeding the hungry. Kroger's number one community priority is to support organizations that bring food and hope to our hungry neighbors. A founding partner of Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger agency, Kroger worked with more than 100 local food banks in 2015 to donate the equivalent of 276 million meals.              
• Kroger is creating jobs. Over the last eight years, Kroger has created more than 74,000 new jobs. This figure does not include jobs created as a result of capital investment, such as temporary construction jobs, nor does it include increases due to mergers.

Learn more about Kroger's sustainability progress and download the full sustainability report at www.kroger.com/sustainability.

For more information about the 2016 Newsweek Green Rankings, created in partnership with Corporate Knights and HIP Investor, visit http://www.newsweek.com/green-2016.

Every day, the Kroger Family of Companies makes a difference in the lives of eight and a half million customers and 431,000 associates who shop or serve in 2,778 retail food stores under a variety of local banner names in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Kroger and its subsidiaries operate an expanding ClickList offering – a personalized, order online, pick up at the store service – in addition to our 2,231 pharmacies, 784 convenience stores, 323 fine jewelry stores, 1,387 supermarket fuel centers and 38 food production plants in the United States. Kroger is recognized as one of America's most generous companies for its support of more than 100 Feeding America food bank partners, breast cancer research and awareness, the military and their families, and more than 145,000 community organizations including schools. A leader in supplier diversity, Kroger is a proud member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable.

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SOURCE The Kroger Co.