Weis Markets Tuesday announced it has been recognized for incorporating sustainability practices into its day-to-day operations which have helped it conserve resources and reduce the overall environmental impact of its 163 stores, distribution center and manufacturing facilities.

It is the second food retailer in the country to receive this recognition.

(Photo: Dustin Herner, Weis Energy Analyst, Peter Cooke Manomet Manager, Catarina Damrell Manomet Specialist, me!! Weis Sustainability Manager, John Lerch, Weis Director Energy and Store Maintenance, and Jeremy Hazlak, Weis Energy Manager.)

The Manomet Grocery Stewardship Certification (GSC) sustainability award is based on waste, water use, energy use, and greenhouse gas emission reductions in a company’s retail locations and supply chain.

The GSC program was launched in 2012 and remains the nation’s only food retailing sustainability certification program.

“A practical sustainability program has been an important focus area for our company since 2008. During this time, we’ve reduced our overall environmental footprint by 12.3 percent,” said R. Kevin Small, Vice President of Store Development. “The Grocery Stewardship Certification recognizes our progress and provides us with valuable insight about our overall performance in the sustainability arena. The GSC program also helps us engage with our associates in new ways and show our customers that we are continually adopting sustainable practices.”

In recent years, Weis Markets has partnered with the EPA’s GreenChill program; rolled out its first store with all LED lighting and added a Green Leader role in each store to provide enhanced associate and customer awareness of the company’s sustainability commitment. It is also installing other energy efficient equipment and systems in stores and is a long-time proponent of recycling.

As a result of its sustainable operating practices, Weis Markets is annually saving more than: 64 million pounds of waste from going to landfills; 11,141,258 million gallons of water from being used; and 295,894 tons of greenhouse gases from being released.

“Weis Markets has gone above and beyond its mission to become more sustainable. It is impressive to see a company that conducts business with the next 100 years in mind,” said Peter Cooke, program manager of the Grocery Stewardship Certification program. “We are pleased to recognize Weis Markets for their environmental leadership and look forward to working with them as they continue their journey.”

For more information, visit the Weis Markets Sustainability webpage.

Related Stories:

PA Doesn’t Have That Far To Go To Meet EPA Clean Power Climate Plan Limits

Report: PA Better Prepared For Climate-Driven Threats Than Most States

Philadelphia Releases First Climate Adaptation Report

Academy Of Natural Sciences’ Carol Collier On Beginning Of The UN Climate Conference

DEP Comment Period On EPA Clean Power Plan Closed, You Can Read What Others Said

Report: Another 3,048 MW Of Wind Power Could Be Built In PA, Offshore In Erie

Hershey Expands Sustainable Sourcing Efforts With New Deforestation Commitments

Pittsburgh Green Workplace Challenge Highest Scoring Organizations Recognized

Duquesne University’s Sustainability MBA Lands On Another Top 10 Listing

PUC Video: Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audits, Tips On Saving Energy

Op-Ed: Climate Change A National Security Threat, Tom Ridge

12/7/2015