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As one of the largest retailers in the country, Kroger serves over 11 million customers in 2 dozen banner stores every day. They apply sustainability throughout their business and use clear targets and reporting to measure their progress.

Our guide is here to help set your brand up for success when working with Kroger. In this guide, you’ll find an overview of Kroger’s sustainable packaging requirements, overall impact goals, tips for updating your packaging, and more.

For individual guidance about creating sustainable packaging that stands out at Kroger, contact us, and we’ll be happy to help.

Table of Contents

• At a Glance: Kroger's Sustainability Goals
• About Kroger
• Kroger's Sustainability Goals and Commitments
• Packaging Goals for Kroger's Own Brands
• Packaging Requirements for Kroger Suppliers
• Frequently Asked Questions About Kroger
• How EcoEnclose Helps Brands Working With Kroger
• Additional Resources

Kroger has detailed sustainability goals and initiatives across their business and banner stores. Some of their current initiatives include:

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030

• Engage supply chain in Scope 3 emissions reduction, responsible sourcing, and human rights due diligence

• Spend $10 billion annually with diverse suppliers by 2030

• Direct 4 billion meals to fight food security by 2030

• Achieve 95% food waste diversion by 2025

• Phase out single-use plastic shopping bags by 2025

• Seek to achieve 100% recyclable, compostable, and/or reusable packaging in own brands by 2030

EcoEnclose is well-positioned to help brands assess their packaging to meet Kroger’s vendor requirements and sustainability goals. Reach out to us if you’d like support:

• Optimizing your packaging design for efficiency

• Choosing sustainable, sturdy secondary packaging

• Designing packaging for circularity

• Maximizing recycled content

• Replacing single-use plastics

• Using clear labeling for sustainability and end-of-life

Kroger operates nearly 2,800 stores in 35 states and serves almost 11 million customers daily. They work under two dozen banners, including Smith’s, Fred Meyer, Kroger, and Vitacost. Their stores range from smaller neighborhood markets to giant retail shops featuring everything from pharmacies to garden centers.

Depending on the store, Kroger sells a variety of products that include:

• Groceries
• Packaged foods
• Beauty and personal care products
• Home goods
• Pet products
• Toys
• Clothing
• And more

Kroger owns many private-label brands, including Private Selection, Simple Truth, Home Chef, Dip, and Pet Pride.

Since Kroger is one of the largest retailers worldwide, working with Kroger can help you get your brand in front of customers nationwide.

If you are working with Kroger or aiming to do so, keep reading for tips on designing packaging that can help you land the deal and elevate your shelf presence and promotion with the retailer.

Kroger’s vision for impact is to “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.”

This vision drives their commitment to work towards positive changes for people and the planet across their operations, and the company aims to use its size and scale to achieve meaningful progress.

One of its critical efforts is its “Zero Hunger | Zero Waste” action plan, which works to reduce food waste and hunger in the communities it serves. In 2023, they reached a milestone of 3 billion meals donated through this program.

Some of Kroger’s current sustainability initiatives include:

Kroger’s extensive portfolio of brands includes environmentally focused labels like Simple Truth Organic.

They are actively working to make packaging for all of their brands more sustainable by:

Kroger has general packaging requirements for suppliers to streamline the ordering, delivery, and display process. Some of these include:

While Kroger doesn’t seem to have publicly available sustainability packaging requirements for suppliers, brands can use Kroger’s goals for their brands as a benchmark for sustainability. 

This may include: 

• Prioritizing recycled and recyclable packaging

• Redesigning packaging to eliminate waste

• Implementing clear labeling to highlight sustainable attributes and end-of-life instructions 

In addition to working to comply with Kroger's sustainable packaging guidelines, we encourage brands to consider the following: 

• Maximizing recycled content across all materials, especially post-consumer content

• Choosing responsibly sourced and/or certified Virgin inputs when required

• Designing for ready recyclability, including curbside and thin film packaging

• Avoiding “compostable” plastic packaging that is rarely environmentally preferable

• Evaluating opportunities for reusable packaging thoughtfully

• Reducing waste through swaps like zero waste label release liners

• Piloting innovative materials like Black Algae Ink or Seaweed Film Windows

Kroger does not have a published set of sustainable packaging requirements for suppliers. However, suppliers can use Kroger’s goals for their own brands as a guideline. This may include implementing reusable or refillable packaging, eliminating single-use plastic, and maximizing recycled content.

Kroger has not currently listed any specific bans on packaging materials. However, brands can align with the company’s vision for a healthier planet by avoiding materials that are difficult to recycle, contain chemicals of concern, or have a negative environmental impact.

Kroger does not require third-party certifications to sell products in their stores. However, they do mention some certifications in their sustainability goals, including: 

• How2Recycle® labeling for packaging end-of-life

• Certifications for food products, such as Bee Better, USDA Organic, and Rainforest Alliance

• Sustainable forestry certifications, such as FSC®

Brands interested in selling at Kroger should register through their Supplier Hub. Kroger’s merchandising team will review your application and determine how your brand may work with Kroger.

Are you currently working with Kroger or looking to have your brand carried in their stores? 

EcoEnclose is ready to help you develop packaging solutions that align with Kroger’s sustainability standards and help you put your best foot forward. 

Here are specific ways we’ve helped supplier brands for Kroger:

Efficient Packaging Design

One of Kroger’s goals is to reduce waste from unneeded packaging.

EcoEnclose works with your brand and analyzes your product line to find areas where you can reduce packaging waste and choose the best size, shape, and type of packaging for your products.

Choose Sustainable Yet Sturdy Secondary Packaging

Kroger has strict requirements for secondary packaging and shipping materials.

EcoEnclose can help you find packaging solutions that meet Kroger’s safety and durability requirements while also achieving sustainability goals.

Design for Circularity

As Kroger seeks to transition to increasingly circular packaging, EcoEnclose can help your brand find ways to close the loop of your packaging by choosing materials and designs that are reusable, compostable, recyclable, or returnable.

Maximize Recycled Content

Recycling is a high priority for Kroger. EcoEnclose helps assess your current packaging to find areas where you can maximize the amount of recycled content across your packaging materials.

Replace Single-Use Plastic

Kroger has a goal to reduce reliance on single-use plastic. EcoEnclose can help you find and transition to cost-effective replacements for single-use plastic packaging.

Clear Sustainable Attributes and Disposal Labeling

Kroger encourages clear labeling to help members make sustainable choices and dispose of packaging appropriately.

EcoEnclose can help your brand design packaging that highlights your brand’s impact. To make recycling easier, EcoEnclose also helps brands navigate the How2Recycle® request and labeling process.

Our unique Sustainable Packaging Framework helps streamline decision-making, and our rigorous standards for all products ensure your packaging meets and exceeds the sustainability standards set by Kroger. We leverage our experience working with hundreds of brands, from the smallest startups to the most robust enterprise brands, to help you create a working packaging strategy.

To get started, request free samples, explore our extensive resource library, or get in touch for a free consultation

• Kroger 2023 ESG Impact Report
• Kroger Supplier Registration Hub
• Kroger ESG Hub
• Kroger Sustainable Packaging Goals
• Supply Pike: Packaging for Kroger

EcoEnclose is the leading sustainable packaging company that provides eco-packaging solutions to the world’s most forward-thinking brands.

We develop diverse, sustainable packaging solutions that meet our rigorous research-based standards and customers’ goals. We drive innovative packaging materials to market and consistently improve the circularity of existing solutions.