For more than 20 years, our Food Lion team has pioneered innovative sustainable business practices.
Our promise – to reduce food waste, conserve energy and source products locally and responsibly –
allows us to be the best neighbor possible in the towns and cities we serve.
We’re committed to
sustainability because we’re
committed to you.
food rescue
Food Lion 2020
Sustainability Goal:
In the U.S., food waste accounts for 30-40 percent of the food supply. Good food that could feed families is often sent to landfills. To sum it up, food waste can be avoided.
In 2000, we were the first grocery retailer in the U.S. to introduce a food rescue program with Feeding America. In each of our stores, we donate fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy products and shelf-stable food to local food banks and feeding agencies to help millions of our neighbors who struggle with hunger.
What has Food Lion
accomplished?
We have seen a 44% reduction of food waste in our operations. We did this through our food rescue program and reducing waste at the source. Additionally, we have helped divert waste from landfills through composting in various stores and recycling organic waste.
Since 2014, we have donated more than 750 million meals to our neighbors in need through our hunger relief platform, Food Lion Feeds.
To ensure neighbors don’t go hungry during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have donated more than $4.8 million in financial and food donations totaling more than 32 million meals, to nourish and care for our local communities.
We are committed to donating
1.5 billion meals by the end of 2025
to our neighbors in need.
We are committed to achieving 85% waste
diversion in our stores through a mix of
recycling, composting and animal feed.
As a U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champion,
we have committed to reduce food loss and waste
in our operations by 50% by the year 2030.
energy
What has Food Lion
Accomplished?
What has Food Lion
accomplished?
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What's
Since 2000, our team at Food Lion has saved energy equivalent to taking 128,136 passenger vehicles off the road, and supplying the energy needed to charge more than 75 billion smartphones.
We have reduced our carbon emissions by 32%, investing $15 million to improve operational efficiencies.
Our commitment to sustainability stretches across the food value chain. By working with partners who share our desire to provide the highest-quality, freshest food for our customers, we provide products that are responsibly sourced and benefit local communities.
Knowing where your food comes from is important. This is why we put tremendous effort into sourcing local and fresh products and ensuring that layer of transparency reaches the shopper.
At Food Lion, we’re dedicated to being a responsible corporate citizen, both locally and globally, because we know that we can make a real impact across our operations. This means we do our part to support a healthier planet by reducing carbon emissions, conserving energy and expanding our recycling initiatives in line with our participation in the Paris Agreement.
Climate change is happening, and as the planet slowly heats up, human health and our environment are negatively impacted by its effects such as widespread air pollution, disease and extreme weather events. Slowing the dire effects of global warming is critical for the future of our global population.
In 2020, we recycled more than 170,000 tons of cardboard and paper and 6,900 tons of plastic. And since 2013, Food Lion has saved an estimated 15 million plastic bags through the sale of more than 5 million reusable bags.
We have increased our annual recycling rate to more than 79% through strategies such as recycling cardboard, plastic bags and comingle recycling.
sustainable
sourcing
At Food Lion, we have an industry-leading sustainable seafood policy covering more than 2,500 fresh, frozen, canned or packaged products sold across the store.
All of Food Lion’s own brand coffee, cocoa, tea and soy products are 100% sustainably sourced.
In 2016, we announced our commitment to selling cage-free eggs. Currently, 25% of the eggs sold in our stores are cage-free.
bY
2025
We will be 100% sustainably certified in our brand’s palm oil, pulp and paper products and packaging and continue to make key advances in animal welfare and human rights.
We plan to have a 100% cage-free shell egg assortment.
In partnership with Ahold Delhaize USA, we will make it easier for customers to see how products were grown and where they come from with increased traceability and digital transparency.
Since 2014, we have donated more than 339 million meals through our food rescue program.
2025
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What's
Food Lion 2020
Sustainability Goal:
Key accomplishments include having 459 of our stores outfitted with LED lighting, certifying 919 of our stores through Energy Star and making LED lighting products available to customers as replacements for traditional compact fluorescent lights
We are the only grocery retailer to win the Energy Star Partner of the Year award for 20 consecutive years.
2025
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What's
We plan to divert 85% of the total
waste in our 1,000+ stores.
Our plastic packaging will be 100% reusable,
recyclable or compostable.
2030
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We are committed to reducing carbon emissions by 50% from our own operations, in partnership with ADUSA, while working with our suppliers to reduce emissions by 15% across our entire supply chain.
We strive to ensure our customers understand what is included in our brands’ products with clear on-pack Bioengineered Food labeling.
Food Lion maintains robust animal welfare guidelines that are grounded in the five freedoms of animal welfare.
In February 2020, we announced our partnership with the Ocean Disclosure Project to provide even greater transparency around seafood we source to be sold in our stores.
2025
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What's
We are committed to reducing carbon emissions by 50% from our own operations, in partnership with ADUSA, while working with our suppliers to reduce emissions by 15% across our entire supply chain.
2025
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2025
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What's
since 2013 by sales of reusable bags.
23,332,995
Plastic Bags
Food Lion has saved an estimated
Plastic Film, Bags, Bottles
7,813 tons
Cardboard & Paper
187,388 tons
Biogas, Composting,
& Animal Feed
18,123 tons
In 2022 Food Lion recycled
over 81%
Our overall recycling rate is
recycle
meals
donated since 2014
1 Billion
More than
donated in 2022
More than 158 Million Meals
In 2022, through Food Lion Feeds, we showed our care by donating fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy products and shelf-stable food throughout the year to help end hunger in the towns and cities we serve.
Community
policy alone covers more than 2,500 fresh, frozen, canned or packaged products sold across the store. This means our seafood products are 100% sustainable and traceable back to the original source fishery or farm.
Food Lion has industry-leading sustainable product policies covering seafood, coffee, tea, cocoa, soy, palm oil, and wood fiber. Our sustainable seafood
sustainable products
HIGHEST AMONG ANY ENERGY STAR PARTNER
Years
22
Food Lion has been awarded ENERGY STARPartner of the Year for Energy Management forits achievements since 2000. 2022 was Food Lion’s 22nd consecutive year recieving the award.
recognition
incandescent
lightbulbs to LED
14.2 Million
Since 2000, Food Lion’s reductions in carbon emissions are equivalent to 47,286 homes’ energy use for one year, 73,042 homes electricity use for one year, or upgrading
Conserve
2023
sustainability
by the numbers
earth day
Produced by the External Communications and Sustainability Team
since 2013 by sales of reusable bags.
23,332,995
Plastic Bags
Food Lion has saved an estimated
Plastic Film, Bags, Bottles
7,813 tons
Cardboard & Paper
187,388 tons
Biogas, Composting,
& Animal Feed
18,123 tons
In 2022 Food Lion recycled
over 81%
Our overall recycling rate is
recycle
meals
donated since 2014
1 Billion
More than
donated in 2022
More than 158 Million Meals
In 2022, through Food Lion Feeds, we showed our care by donating fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy products and shelf-stable food throughout the year to help end hunger in the towns and cities we serve.
Community
policy alone covers more than 2,500 fresh, frozen, canned or packaged products sold across the store. This means our seafood products are 100% sustainable and traceable back to the original source fishery or farm.
Food Lion has industry-leading sustainable product policies covering seafood, coffee, tea, cocoa, soy, palm oil, and wood fiber. Our sustainable seafood
sustainable products
HIGHEST AMONG ANY ENERGY STAR PARTNER
Years
22
Food Lion has been awarded ENERGY STARPartner of the Year for Energy Management forits achievements since 2000. 2022 was Food Lion’s 22nd consecutive year recieving the award.
recognition
incandescent
lightbulbs to LED
14.2 Million
Since 2000, Food Lion’s reductions in carbon emissions are equivalent to 47,286 homes’ energy use for one year, 73,042 homes electricity use for one year, or upgrading
Conserve
2023
sustainability
by the numbers
earth day