Content about Sustainability

SUNBURY, Pa. — The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania recently recognized Weis Markets for its commitment to recycling and its innovative program to recycle waxed cardboard used to ship and store fresh vegetables and meats, the grocer announced Monday.

In 2010, Weis Markets teamed up with Envirolog to recycle its waxed cardboard and produce Envirolog fireplace logs, which are sold in Weis Markets stores.  Typically, supermarkets send most of their waxed cardboard to landfills since it is difficult to recycle.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble’s Pantene hair care brand has started producing its new shampoo and conditioner bottles made primarily from plant-based plastic.

This material — a first for the hair care industry — is made from sugar cane and will be featured on the Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion collection. The new bottles initially will be launching in Western Europe with expansion plans to the rest of the world over the next two years.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Just in time for Earth Day, Fresh & Easy has introduced its private-label household cleaning and paper products.

The retailer's Green Things line, which now is available in stores, features household cleaners that are made with plant-based formulas, are biodegradable and pH-neutral, and also are made without such chemicals as 1,4-dioxane, phosphates, dyes or perfumes.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target said that its in-store recycling stations collected and recycled more than 170 million shopping bags, weighing more than 1,800 tons, between April and December 2010.

The retailer also said that its in-store recycling stations, which were launched to make it easier for guests to recycle common household items, also collected and recycled more than 700 tons of bottles and cans, as well as nearly 2 million units of such small electronics as MP3 players and cell phones during the nine-month period.

CINCINNATI — In an effort to reward those that take everyday conservation actions, Procter & Gamble's Future Friendly program has announced a national partnership with Recyclebank.

The announcement follows a successful collaboration between P&G Future Friendly and Recyclebank's Cincinnati division, which enhanced the city's recycling efforts.

AUSTIN, Texas — Whole Foods Market is celebrating Earth Month by focusing on educating consumers on its organic body care guidelines, eco-friendly packaging efforts and the evaluated ingredients in premium body care products through its Be Good to Your Whole Body campaign.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target announced that as part of its Earth Month celebration, it is offering customers the chance to win a "Refresh Your Nest" home makeover worth up to $50,000 with the help of LEED-accredited designer Sabrina Soto, as well as hundreds of other sustainable prizes.

Guests can log on to Target.com/Eco to enter the sweepstakes.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Taking a cue from other beverage makers, Danone Waters of America said it has redesigned its 1.5-liter Evian bottle as part of the company's ongoing effort to reduce its carbon footprint.

The new Evian bottle, which reduces the overall carbon footprint by 32%, remains 100% recyclable while using 11% less weight (down to 28.6 g per bottle). The bottle, the company added, is made of up to 50% recycled PET.

RACINE, Wis. — SC Johnson's Ziploc brand is looking to reduce potential product waste by sponsoring a recycling initiative.

Teaming up with Recyclebank, Ziploc will reduce its environmental footprint by sponsoring the nationwide expansion of Recyclebank's rewards-for-recycling platform, which seeks to keep potential waste out of landfills by increasing recycling behavior. The goal is to divert more than 100 million lbs. of waste from landfills within 24 months, the companies said.

DALLAS — Kimberly-Clark has joined more than 8,000 companies and groups in participating in the world's largest corporate citizenship and sustainability initiative.

As a participant in the United Nations Global Compact, Kimberly-Clark will further improve its sustainable efforts by collaborating with other leading organizations that are focused on a responsible future, the company said.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Albertsons, which is owned by Supervalu, recently announced that two of its stores located in California reached “zero waste” classification in their daily operations.