Sunbury-based Weis Markets Wednesday announced it has been selected as the chain category winner in Supermarket News’ 2013 Sustainability Excellence Awards.

The program, in its sixth year, recognized companies for exceptional leadership in promoting a sustainable environment through such initiatives as energy conservation, renewable energy, improved refrigeration, waste reduction, recycling, product design and transportation efficiency.

Three winners were selected — one chain retailer, one wholesaler and one independent retailer (family-owned and supplied by a wholesaler).

Weis Markets won for its systematic sustainability program, which has helped the company to reduce its carbon emissions by 15.5 percent since embarking on the program in 2008 through the careful analysis of electricity usage, refrigeration emissions, gas and diesel fuel usage, fleet size and vehicle consumption.

“This is a proud moment for our company. Our associates have worked hard to implement our program, literally from the ground up with our new store designs and remodels, as well as with our operations and distribution strategies, and recycling and conservation efforts at each of our stores,” said R. Kevin Small, Weis Markets Vice President, Construction and Development. “Over the past five years, we have steadily increased the scope and scale of our sustainability program, which has helped us reduce our overall environmental impact in the communities we serve.”

In April 2013, Weis released its first sustainability report, highlighting the company’s continuing goals and vision for a greener tomorrow and also sharing a five-year snapshot of collected data.

Last year alone, the company saved $2.7 million by reducing its electricity usage and another $2.5 million in landfill fees, recycling more than 51 million pounds of waste.

It also opened its first LEED-registered store in Fogelsville, Pa, introduced 100-percent recyclable meat trays for select Weis fresh meat products and expanded its closed-loop composting program to 30 of its stores. That number will soon grow to 50 by the end of the month, as more stores are brought on line with the organic waste recycling effort.

Weis Markets’ systematic sustainability program focuses on four pillars:

-- Green Design (store design and remodels)

-- Protection of Natural Resources (recycling and conservation efforts)

-- Food and Agriculture (partnerships with local farmers and food processors)

-- Social Responsibility (caring for Weis associates and fostering the communities it serves through volunteerism, direct and in-kind donations)

The company is affiliated with the U.S. Green Building Council, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership, EPA’s SmartWay program, the U.S. Composting Council, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, PA Preferred and Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center.

For more information, view Weis Markets’ Sustainability Report.

9/30/2013