U.S. grocery chain and parent company of other grocery brands
Environmentally-mindful sourcing and stocking commitments?: No
Promotes collections that help consumers make conscious decisions?: No / not found
Stocks any Commons top-rated sustainable brands? (proportion of rateable categories): Not analyzed yet
Has time-bound targets to improve its sourcing for owned-brand products?: Yes - but only partial coverage
On track for these targets?: Yes - for some
Certifications for owned-brands and products?: Yes
These certifications include: RSPO, MSC, ASC
Heavy reliance on virgin petro plastic?: Yes
Shares info on ecommerce packaging?: N/A
Shares info on in-store and upstream packaging?: Yes - but reporting could be improved
Shares info on own-brand packaging?: Yes - but reporting could be improved
Petro-based plastics in packaging?: Yes - but working to reduce
Recycled plastic?: Partially Recycled
Uses environmentally-mindful materials (non-plastic) in packaging?: Yes
These materials include ones that are: recyclable, recycled.
Targets for improving its packaging materials?: Yes - and reports on progress
Initiatives to reduce packaging volume / intensity?: Yes - vague / limited
Plastic waste reduction through partnerships?: Yes: The Recycling Partnership, Closed Loop Partners, Terracycle, and others
Uses renewable energy in its supply chain and/or offices?: Yes - only 1%
Uses renewable energy in its stores?: No / not found
Targets for increasing renewable energy?: No / not found
On track for these targets?: N/A
Energy efficiency measures?: Yes - thorough
Efforts to lower shipping emissions (e.g. EVs)?: Yes - nonspecific
Water conservation measures?: Yes - specifics shared
Refrigerant management strategy?: Yes - specifics shared
Any EPA GreenChill certified stores?: No / not found
Alt models to promote consumer reuse and recycling?: Recycling schemes
Packaging disposal guidance?: Yes
Corporate waste reduction initiatives?: Other (incl general reducing landfill waste)
Corporate waste reporting?: Yes - thorough / all
Food waste reduction initiatives?: Yes - thorough
Food waste reporting?: Yes - thorough
Promotes overconsumption?: No
Commons is still evaluating this brand's marketing emails.
Sustainability page on consumer site?: Yes - buried
Voluntary annual sustainability report?: Yes
Last published: 2024
Reports its emissions?: Yes
Breakdown in CO2e?: Yes
Last reported in: 2024
Estimated emissions footprint: 7648476 tons CO2e
Scope 1+2 emissions intensity compared to industry / competitor average: High
Science-aligned emissions reduction targets?: Yes - science-aligned
Target timeframe: Long-term (10+ years)
Reports progress?: Yes - on track
Climate neutral certification?: No
Offsets emissions?: No / not found
Publishes supplier information for owned production?: No
Publishes supplier code of conduct?: Yes
Code of conduct: prohibits forced labor, prohibits child labor, ensures the right to collective bargaining
Code of conduct does not sufficiently: disallow unauthorized subcontracting, ensure a living wage, establish grievance mechanisms, include environmental clauses
Code of Conduct covers all applicable suppliers (own-production and stocked-brand)?: Yes
Labor certifications in supply chain?: No
3rd-party criticisms of supply chain or labor conditions?: Yes - few
Discloses all trade association memberships?: Yes
Climate-obstructive trade association memberships: 1 - U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Pro-climate advocacy memberships?: No
Employs state lobbyists?: Yes
Percentage of lobbyists that are fossil-fuel aligned: Low 1-6%
Donated more than $100k to any candidates or PACs from 2018-2024?: Yes
Amount donated: $100-500K
How much more was given to obstructive candidates/PACs?: 48 percent
Kroger has an overall lack of sustainability efforts and disclosures, and it contributes significantly to climate-obstructive financing. We expect more reporting, accountability, and action from a company of its size.
Kroger is holding back government climate action through its money and influence. It has donated $364500 to climate-obstructive candidates or PACs since 2018. It spent 48% more on climate-obstructive candidates or PACs than on pro-climate ones. These actions outweigh much of the progress it has made in other areas.
Kroger uses primarily plastic packaging of a virgin or undisclosed source, which contributes greatly to waste production and excess energy use. It does have targets to improve its packaging materials, and it has reported on progress. It also has initiatives to reduce waste in its corporate operations and reduce food waste in its supply chain. It provides detailed reporting on both.
However, Kroger doesn't disclose the proportion of renewable energy used in its supply chain, stores, or offices. Nor does it share targets for increasing its use of renewables. It publicly shares its emissions measurements and has science-aligned reduction targets. Its targets are on track, though its scope 1+2 emissions intensity remains high compared to its competitors.
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (harmful) to 5 (best). How we rate →
https://www.thekrogerco.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Kroger-Co-2024-ESG-Report.pdf
https://www.thekrogerco.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Kroger-Co-2024-ESG-Report.pdf https://www.thekrogerco.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Kroger-No-Deforestation-Commitment_August-2020.pdf https://www.thekrogerco.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/The-Kroger-Co_Seafood-Sustainability-Policy_2018-July.pdf
https://www.kroger.com/i/ways-to-shop/delivery/kroger-delivery
https://www.thekrogerco.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Kroger-Co-2024-ESG-Report.pdf https://www.thekrogerco.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/The-Kroger-Co_Sustainable-Packaging-Goals_2020.pdf
https://www.epa.gov/greenchill/greenchill-certified-stores https://www.epa.gov/greenchill/food-retail-partners-0
https://www.climatefriendlysupermarkets.org/scorecard
https://www.thekrogerco.com/impact/reporting-hub/
https://www.thekrogerco.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Kroger-GHG-Goal-Roadmap_Feb-2023.pdf
https://www.thekrogerco.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/code-of-conduct.pdf
https://www.thekrogerco.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2022-Political-Spending-Report.pdf
https://fminus.org/lobbyists/
https://www.fec.gov/data/browse-data/
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