SuperValu has announced that €7.9 million has been invested in sustainability initiatives across its stores over the past six months. During this period, SuperValu retailers have installed 5,322 solar panels, saving enough energy to power 435 homes annually.
Of this €7.9M investment, some €4.1 million was drawn down from a major sustainability fund announced by Musgrave in June 2022, while an additional €3.8 million spend has been matched by independent SuperValu retailers.
In addition, SuperValu retailers have now saved 182,000 sheets of paper with the installation of eSELs in 2022. Many other stores upgraded their refrigeration, freezers and lighting using the sustainability fund.
As part of its net zero journey, in 2022 SuperValu removed over 35 tonnes of plastic packaging, while 376 tonnes of non-recyclable black plastic trays across fresh meat and fish changed over to recyclable clear plastic. SuperValu has committed to 100% of its fruit and vegetable, own-brand, and in-store packaging being recyclable, reusable, or compostable within the next three years.
To date, the chain has achieved 95% of its 100% packaging goals, including replacing the plastic packaging on SuperValu apples and pears with cardboard, which removed over 27 tonnes of plastic annually.
PASSIONATE ABOUT COMMUNITY
Speaking on the progress being made, Daniel Murphy, Program Manager, Musgrave Sustainability Fund said, “This is the kind of action and achievement that we were hoping for when we launched our Sustainability Fund. Our retailers have been very enthusiastic about the fund, and many have big plans for 2023.
“SuperValu have an exceptional network of retail partners, made up of SMEs and local entrepreneurs who are passionate about their communities and sustainability. As a business with a presence in every community across the island of Ireland, we have a responsibility to act, while putting in place genuine and meaningful sustainability policies,” he said.
