Retailer Guide | Kroger

Published July 12, 2023

KROGER PACKAGING AND SUSTAINABILITY REQUIREMENTS

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.

Summary of Kroger's Goals
Overview of Kroger's Sustainability Goals
Packaging Requirements for Kroger’s Own Brands
Packaging Requirements for Suppliers
How EcoEnclose Helps Brands Working With Kroger
Resources

Summary of Kroger’s Goals

Kroger has detailed sustainability goals and initiatives across their business and banner stores. Our guide is here to help set your brand up for success when working with Kroger.

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

How EcoEnclose Helps Kroger’s Suppliers

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:

Efficient Packaging Design
Choose Sustainable Yet Sturdy Secondary Packaging
Design for Circularity
Maximize Recycled Content
Replace Single-Use Plastic
Use Clear Labeling for Sustainable Attributes and Disposal

Ready to talk to a packaging expert? Contact us.

About Kroger

Kroger operates nearly 2,800 stores in 35 states and serves nearly 11 million customers every day. They work under two dozen banners, including Smith’s, Fred Meyer, Kroger, and Vitacost. Depending on the store, they sell a variety of groceries, packaged foods, beauty and personal care products, home goods, clothing, and more.

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.

Overview of Kroger’s Sustainability Goals

Kroger’s purpose is to “Feed the Human Spirit,” its brand promise is “Fresh for Everyone.” These visions drive their commitment to work towards positive changes for people and the planet across their operations.

One of Kroger’s key efforts is building a more resilient and equitable food system. Through their “Zero Hunger | Zero Waste” action plan, they’re working to reduce food waste and hunger in the communities they serve.

Some of Kroger’s current sustainability targets include:

Convert all depot yard trucks from diesel models to alternative fuel models by 2035

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

Increase recycled content in packaging so Our Brands portfolio collectively contains at least 10% recycled content by 2030

Reduce unnecessary packaging in products

Increase awareness among Kroger customers about how to properly manage product packaging at end of life

Packaging Requirements for Kroger’s Own Brands

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

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

Requirement 1

Improving packaging recyclability

Requirement 2

Increasing recycled content to 10% overall by 2030

Requirement 3

Seeking to transition 100% of own brands recyclable, compostable, or reusable packaging by 2030

Requirement 4

Redesigning current packaging to eliminate any unnecessary waste

Requirement 5

Choosing packaging materials that are readily recyclable for consumers

Requirement 6

Expanding the Kroger Our Brands Free Recycling Program in partnership with TerraCycle

Requirement 7

Highlighting sustainable attributes like natural, organic, plant-based, and zero-waste

Packaging Requirements for Suppliers

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

Requirement 1

All products must be “store-ready” so that their team can stock them easily

Requirement 2

All wearable materials must have a care label

Requirement 3

Shipping cartons must use double-wall corrugated layering with an edge crush test index of #200

Requirement 4

Different purchase order-level SKUs must be packaged in separate containers

Requirement 5

Each clothing set must be in a marked polybag

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.

Sustainable Packaging Solutions

EcoEnclose Is Ready To Help Your Brand

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.

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 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 their members make sustainable choices and dispose of packaging properly. 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.

Resources

Looking for Guidance?

We'd love to help you find the right packaging solution for your business.