New York City — UNIQLO has formed a new partnership with The Nature Conservancy, a global nonprofit committed to helping preserve the environment for future generations. UNIQLO in the U.S. is contributing $150,000 that will go toward the organization’s ‘Plant a Billion Trees’ program, aiding in forest restoration to slow the spread of biodiversity loss and climate change. “We’re very proud to support The Nature Conservancy in their critical work around reforestation,” says Jean Shein, UNIQLO’s global director of sustainability. “UNIQLO’s brand purpose is to help make everyday life better, …
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Regulate & Renovate
— By David Bolaños — How regulations are reshaping restaurant refrigeration. In some respects, not much has changed. As always, restaurant owners want the optimal refrigeration system for their situations. Nothing new there. But planning a restaurant’s cooling/freezing strategy is more important than ever these days because of proposed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations regarding refrigerants. The details of the tighter regulations and the exact timing of their implementation are still to be determined, but they are coming. The new regulations might be in effect as soon as January 2025. …
Richmond, Va. — CarMax, Inc., the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, has introduced the pilot of its first all-electric semi-truck that is being used as a vehicle hauler in California’s San Joaquin Valley. The truck can transport up to seven vehicles at one time and can travel an estimated 230 miles on a single charge. CarMax is testing the all-electric semi-truck in real-world conditions and its Stockton, Calif., store will serve as the region’s hub for fast-charging the vehicle with a Level 3 charging station. CarMax’s test to replace …
— By Ray Hatch — 3 ways retailers and restaurants can get ahead of a potential recession and avoid greenwashing. A possible recession, the risk of ESG-related litigation and allegations of greenwashing are troubling to navigate, making transparency and analytics a vital check and balance in today’s market. Whether you’re a retail grocer, restaurant executive or otherwise, investing in a waste audit and data reporting platforms are effective routes to avoiding the chopping block. According to a recent survey from Deloitte, 49% of respondents said data and reporting helped them …
Los Angeles — EVgo Inc., one of the nation’s largest public fast-charging networks for electric vehicles (EVs), will install new fast-charging stations in the Midwest in an expanded partnership with Meijer, a regional grocery retailer. The new EVgo stations will be built in Ohio and feature up to six stalls at select Meijer locations, equipped with high-power 350kW chargers so that EV drivers can quickly charge and get back on the road. The extended partnership builds upon EVgo and Meijer’s existing relationship and will help increase access to public charging …
Lincolnshire, Ill. — LG Electronics will enter the rapidly growing U.S. electric vehicle charger market in 2024 with the introduction of its first line of AC and DC EV charging stations. According to Nicolas Min, senior vice president of LG Business Solutions USA, the line will include Level 2 and Level 3 EV chargers, opening new opportunities for businesses, municipalities and other public places to support the electrification of America with independently owned and operated charging stations. “As a leader in the electrification movement, LG is committed to delivering systems …
— By Jessy Perone — Filta takes care of fryer oil management for more than 50 Dairy Queens — personalizing plans and service for each franchise owner to meet specific needs. More than 50 Dairy Queen restaurants nationwide rely on Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions for fryer oil management so their restaurants can consistently produce delicious, golden brown fries and chicken tenders for customers while keeping employees safe, keeping restaurants clean and sustainable, and boosting profitability. From Connecticut to Georgia and South Carolina to New Mexico, the majority of these 50 …
Hudson, Ohio — JOANN Inc., the nation’s category leader in sewing and fabrics with one of the largest arts and crafts offerings, has released a report outlining the company’s Corporate Responsibility results for fiscal year 2023. The report highlights the company’s impact across its EVERGREEN Strategic Pillars: • Creating an environment where all team members can be their authentic selves and contribute at the highest level; • Minimizing carbon footprint by taking action throughout JOANN and supplier operations; • Powering reusability with customers to tie environmental responsibility to a greater …
Emeryville, Calif. — Grocery Outlet Holding Corp., a high-growth, extreme value retailer of quality, name-brand consumables and fresh products, has published its first Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report covering fiscal year 2022. “At Grocery Outlet, our mission of ‘touching lives for the better’ has been core to the business from the start, and fulfilling this purpose has resulted in positive environmental and social impacts throughout our 77-year history. We are proud of the work we have done and we are excited to highlight our ESG strategy through our first …
Grand Rapids, Mich. — For the third consecutive year, Meijer has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenChill Program for having the lowest corporate-wide refrigerant emissions rate out of all GreenChill Partners nationwide over the past year. As an active participant in the EPA’s program since 2012, the Midwest retailer focused on reducing its refrigerant leak rate and is well below the industry average of 25%. “Lessening our impact on the environment through a continued commitment to reduce carbon emissions is important to us and our customers,” says …