Impact
Kroger’s Purpose & Promise
We imagine a world where everyone has access to fresh, nutritious and affordable food so we can all thrive together. Our Purpose—to Feed the Human Spirit™—and brand promise, Fresh for Everyone™ drives our commitment to advance positive changes for people and our planet across our operations.
Our Vision for Impact
Kroger is committed to helping build a more resilient and equitable food system that creates a better future for People, our Planet and the Systems on which we all depend. We’re using our size and scale to achieve meaningful change in the communities we serve and throughout our value chain.
Zero Hunger | Zero Waste
Our Zero Hunger | Zero Waste action plan keeps us on track to live our purpose every day – helping create communities free of hunger and waste. From food access and nutrition to climate change and conservation, our ambitious impact plan addresses the most critical challenges of our time for people and our planet.
Highlights:
| 1977 | Established an industry-leading Public Responsibilities Committee of the Board of Directors to oversee key topics |
| 1978 | Kroger is a visionary partner and founding member of Feeding America |
| 2006 | Published first annual Sustainability Report |
| 2008 | Completed first carbon footprint |
| 2009 | Launched work with World Wildlife Fund to advance seafood sustainability |
| 2016 | Published first GRI-aligned sustainability report |
| 2017 | Refined our Purpose: to Feed the Human Spirit and introduced our Zero Hunger | Zero Waste action plan |
| 2018 | Completed first stakeholder-informed materiality assessment; food waste footprint |
| 2019 | Launched purposed linked brand promise: Fresh for Everyone |
| 2020 | Introduced Framework for Action: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Set goal to reduce GHG emissions by 30% by 2030 Set new 2030 sustainable packaging goals |
| 2021 | Published new Human Rights Policy |
| 2022 | Achieved 15% GHG emissions reduction toward a 30% goal |
| 2023 | Achieved goal to donate 3B meals to our communities |
ESG Strategy: Thriving Together
As America’s grocer, we recognize Kroger’s unique role in serving a range of stakeholders. As an employer, food processor, retailer, healthcare provider and more, we have a responsibility to lead with purpose and create positive change for billions of people and for the planet we call home.
Kroger’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy – Thriving Together – acts as our roadmap for achieving long-term performance goals and commitments. Our industry-leading initiatives work to create a better future for People, our Planet and aim to build more resilient natural Systems.
Learn more about our progress in Kroger’s 2023 ESG Report and our ESG Hub.
People
Helping billions live healthier, more sustainable lifestyles
Food Access, Health & Safety
We focus on food safety, affordability and nutrition, and protecting our associates’ and customers’ health and safety. Since 2017, we’ve directed 3 billion meals to our communities, recovered more than 582 million pounds of surplus fresh food, and directed $1.3 billion in charitable giving to help end hunger.
Just & Inclusive Economy
We foster a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion for all through responsible employment practices and recruiting, education and leadership training, career advancement, and partnerships with civil society and organizations working to advance equity and justice.
Planet
Protecting and restoring natural resources
Climate Impact
We support the transition to a lower-carbon economy by implementing energy management best practices and investing in green energy. So far, we’ve reduced GHG emissions by 15% toward our 2030 goal. We also committed to align our Scope 1 & 2 targets to a 1.5?C scenario and set a new Scope 3 target.
Resource Conservation
We implement waste and food waste diversion programs across our operations to achieve zero-waste goals; manage water use responsibly; and engage partners to achieve more sustainable packaging. Our Brands offer customers affordable options for natural, organic, Fair Trade Certified, and plant-based products.
Systems
Building more responsible and inclusive global systems
Business Integration
Kroger’s strong ESG governance and management approach gives business leaders, suppliers and other partners clear expectations for performance.
Responsible & Resilient Systems
We work across our global supply chain to create a more sustainable future for all stakeholders. We’re committed to engaging with suppliers and monitoring compliance with responsible sourcing standards, including respecting human rights and building more sustainable, higher-welfare food production systems.
Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Action Plan
As the centerpiece of our ESG Strategy, our Zero Hunger | Zero Waste plan informs our decision-making to support healthier, more sustainable lifestyles for people and the communities we serve. Since 2017, the company has directed a total of 3 billion meals to help end hunger in our communities, including $1.3 billion in giving to organizations and programs feeding people.
By redirecting surplus food and meals to people in our communities, funding nonprofit organizations that provide meals and related services, and investing in innovative social entrepreneurs and startups with food-system solutions, we aim to inspire collective action and industry-wide sustainable change.
Our Journey to
Zero Hunger | Zero Waste
Kroger has made solid progress on ambitious commitments to improve food access in our communities and reduce waste across our company.
| 2025 Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Commitments | Progress (2017 – 2022) |
|---|---|
| Meals: Direct 3B meals to our communities | 2.9B meals |
| Surplus food: Optimize surplus food recovered through Zero Hunger | Waste Food Rescue program | 582M pounds |
| Donations: 100% of stores with regular surplus food pickups | 100% |
| Nutrition: Increase donations of surplus fresh Produce, Dairy & Deli items to be 45% of total food rescue to improve health | 45% |
| Direct charitable giving to hunger relief: Strategically align giving to nonprofit partners feeding people | $1.3B (Total giving: $1.9B) |
| Operational waste: Achieve zero-waste of 90%+ waste diversion from landfill company-wide | 82% |
| Food waste reduction: Reduce total food waste generated in retail supermarkets by 50% | 26.2% |
| Food waste diversion: Achieve 95%+ food waste diversion from landfill | 45.9% |
| Food waste recycling: 95%+ of retail stores have active food waste recycling programs | 92% |
Associates
Building careers
Kroger offers accessible employment, competitive benefits – from great pay and perks to healthcare and more – and leadership opportunities to grow and build a rewarding career.
Communities
Lifting up neighbors
More than $340 million in annual giving at national and local levels supports nonprofit organizations aligned with our mission and the causes our customers care about most.
Suppliers
Engaging partners
We establish clear expectations and standards for all suppliers to improve performance beyond our own operations and help create a more responsible global supply chain.
