SpartanNash is committed to environmental sustainability. We know that to be successful we need to evaluate how our business decisions — in the short- and long-term — will impact the environment through our consumption of natural resources and generation of waste materials. We also recognize that the way we operate has a direct effect on the natural environment, the communities we serve and our bottom line. We continue to raise the bar on going green with responsible solutions, energy efficiencies and sustainability initiatives aimed at respecting our environment and protecting our planet.
Operational Excellence is a Core Capability of SpartanNash, and we are committed to efficient and effective operations that minimize our environmental footprint across our retail stores, distribution centers, service centers and fleet.
The Company’s Environmental Efforts Have Been Focused Primarily On:
- Optimizing our network to reduce mileage
- Converting freon-based refrigerants to modernized, low ozone-depleting freon-types in DCs, retail refrigerated display cases/air conditioning, and fleet trailer refrigerated units
- Converting our battery chargers and material-handling equipment to more modern, energy-efficient technologies to reduce use of electricity
- Converting our retail and DC assets to use LED lighting to reduce electricity, a journey that is approximately 85% complete
- Reducing grid dependence by increasing our use of renewable energy
- Reducing our contributions to landfills by increasing our diligence on promotions at retail, reclaim/salvage processes at DCs, and the coordination of more incineration and bio digestion where it makes sense and can generate energy
- Increasing our use of recycled/non-virgin materials in our packaging, converting plastic to paper packaging where feasible, and continuing to increase our recycling of plastic, cardboard and wood in stores and DCs
2023 Energy and Emissions
Our focus in 2023 was the development of mitigation strategies, objectives and plans to decrease our Scope 1 & 2 emissions from our 2022 baseline. Our journey to decreasing emissions doesn’t stop here and we look forward to developing new and innovative ways to drive our emissions improvement efforts.
SpartanNash’s kWh remained flat YOY in 2023. SpartanNash’s emissions increased with the migration to the EPA location-based calculation used to convert kWh to MT of CO2e vs. the EPA national average calculation previously reported. This change in 2023 reflects the industry-wide trend to adopt this means of calculation to increase reporting accuracy.
2023 Energy Data
Environment, Health and Safety
Investing in the safety of our Associates builds upon our People First culture of caring, and there is nothing more important than ensuring our Associates go home safely to their families every day.
Measured improvements since 2020*
Waste Reduction
2022 Waste Recycled
We have recycled 53 million total pounds of cardboard, 1 million total pounds of shrink wrap, 509,000 pounds of stretch film, and 543,000 pounds of mixed film. SpartanNash partners with Trex, a manufacturer of wood-alternative decking, to recycle 100% of the stretch film from our stores and DCs in Michigan and Nebraska. This stretch film is recycled into post-consumer products, such as composite decking used for porches and decks.
Our waste generated has steadily declined as we have improved tracking for about-to-be-aged and aged inventory and taken actions to prevent food from becoming waste. This has led to an overall solid waste reduction of 5.6% since 2021 and 22% since 2020.
Food Waste Operations
Distribution Centers
Efforts to prevent food waste in our DCs begin with preventing aged inventory. We have increased our use and standardization of processes for promotions at retail and reclaim/salvage actions at distribution centers. This helps sell the product at a discounted rate rather than sending it to a landfill. Donating to our community partners is prioritized as a next step to keep all consumable food out of our landfills. Lastly, we partner with waste vendors to direct more items to recycling or incineration for energy recovery. By diverting waste materials to an anaerobic digestion facility, the by-product is able to be used for both energy recovery and agricultural use.
Responsible and Sustainable Packaging
We strive to source products responsibly and sustainably, which involves partnering with suppliers who uphold our high standards and sourcing products as locally as possible wherever practical. We continue to require each new vendor to read and acknowledge compliance with our Vendor Code of Conduct, demonstrating their commitment to act in a legal, ethical, safe, fair and environmentally responsible manner.
Sustainable Packaging
We are proud to report sustainable packaging options for a portion of our Our Family® products. We will continue to evaluate new opportunities to make a greater portion of our packaging more eco-friendly.
 | Tall kitchen bagsDrawstring (45 count) and flap-tie (80 count) bags have 65% recycled plastic content. |
 | Compostable Coffee Pods100% certified compostable by Biodegradable Product Institute (BPI) (bags-inks-valve); plant-based; renewable resources; certified to create healthy soil when composted. |
 | Compostable Cutlery100% certified compostable by BPI; includes compostable pressed plates and hot and cold cups. |
 | Paper Towels/Bath TissueForest Stewardship Council mix for paper supporting responsible forestry. |
 | Nuts and Dried FruitsDeli cups use 100% post-industrial content and/or postconsumer recycled PET; fluted corrugate/carton. |