Raley’s has taken an innovative stance on the environment because it creates value for our customers—and it’s the right thing to do! As a result, we continuously look for new technologies and strategies to reduce our carbon footprint.
Waste Stream Reduction
We work hard to reduce the amount of paper waste we generate. By printing receipts on both sides of the paper we have decreased register tape use by 40 percent. We also print ads on recycled paper with 27 percent renewable content and have reduced our advertising and marketing printing by going digital whenever possible.
Recycling
Each year more than half of the waste generated by our stores is diverted from area landfills by being reused or recycled. Our produce cull and trims are reused for energy generation and we recycle our cardboard, plastic stretch wrap, corrugated containers, waxed corrugated containers, newspaper, and pallets.
Reduction of Micro-plastics
We have partnered with Take Care Tahoe in an effort to reduce the amount of micro-plastics found in Lake Tahoe and the surrounding basin. Our Drink Tahoe Tap campaign is designed to educate consumers on the effects of disposable water bottle litter and micro-plastic pollution. By encouraging customers to purchase the Drink Tahoe Tap re-usable water bottles, they can support a local cause and decrease their carbon footprint by filling at the source. This is just one more step in creating more sustainable communities.
Water Conservation
Reducing water use while maintaining our high standards of cleanliness and food safety is another challenge Raley’s has embraced. Utilizing drought resistant landscaping in our parking lots, optimizing water usage in our produce departments, and faucet aerators have contributed to overall water savings. We’re also upgrading our refrigeration condensers, curtailing water usage even further.
Transportation & Logistics
We replaced the entire fleet of diesel-powered tractors with the latest high efficiency model. We also upgraded or replaced refrigerated trailers to ensure all utilize energy-efficient refrigeration systems, reducing air pollution. Electric vehicle charging stations at select locations allow customers and employees to power up while they shop or work.
Store Design & Build Improvements
Each remodel and new store build is an opportunity to enhance sustainability. Newly remodeled stores have water-efficient faucets, low-flow toilets and waterless urinals. New stores have long lasting concrete flooring instead of vinyl. LED lighting is used for all remodels and new store construction. Solar arrays on some buildings allow for substantial savings on power usage.
Refrigeration, Heating & Cooling
Most of our stores have highly reflective “cool roofs,” which substantially reduce air conditioning loads. We also use stratified air systems, consuming less energy to regulate air temperatures. We employ innovative technologies to reduce our refrigerant emission rate, earning our company coveted awards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.