Albertsons Earns EPA Safer Choice Partner of Year Award
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) presented Albertsons Cos. with its Safer Choice Partner of the Year Award for the grocer’s commitment to raising awareness of the Safer Choice Program for sustainable products.
The award recognizes businesses and organizations that further the goal of chemical safety through taking part in or promoting the program in an exemplary fashion. Recognized in the Retailer category, Albertsons displays the Safer Choice logo on its Bright Green line of eco-friendly private label products and promotes the program in stores, advertising and online messaging.
“It is an honor to receive this recognition from the EPA for our commitment to the Safer Choice Program and for selling products that are safer for families, communities and the environment,” noted Jonathan Mayes, SVP of corporate social responsibility, public affairs, government relations and philanthropy.
Developed in 1997 as the Design for the Environment Safer Product Labeling Program, Safer Choice leverages chemical and environmental expertise from across the EPA. The initiative employs the technical tools and expertise of the agency’s New Chemicals Program to evaluate the environmental and human health effects of every chemical ingredient in a product, allowing only the safest ingredients in labeled products. As a voluntary partnership program, Safer Choice unites all interested parties to advance sustainability in chemical products. More than 2,000 products currently qualify to carry the Safer Choice label.
Bright Green Glass & Window Cleaner and Bright Green Rinse Aid are the first of the Albertsons’ line of sustainable homecare and paper products to display the Safer Choice label. More Bright Green products will be added to the program in coming months, as well as other national-brand Safer Choice products. The Bright Green line debuted in 2008.
In addition to its work with sustainable products, Albertsons is working on waste reduction initiatives for all of its facilities, recycled more than 22 million tons of soft plastic in 2015, has rolled out water- and emissions-reduction programs, and is committed to sourcing certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO) for use in its private label products.
Albertsons operates stores in 35 states and the District of Columbia under 18 such banners as Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market and Carrs.