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IN HONOR OF THE HANNAFORD SUPERMARKETS ACHIEVING ZERO WASTE IN THE YEAR
2020
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HON. CHRIS PAPPAS
of new hampshire
in the house of representatives
Monday, April 19, 2021
Mr. PAPPAS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge Hannaford Supermarkets in producing zero pounds of food waste in 2020. Hannaford Supermarkets has 183 stores located across New England and New York, making it the first large-scale supermarket to achieve this landmark in sustainability. Throughout 2020, Hannaford Supermarkets successfully diverted 65 million pounds of food waste out of landfills.
Instrumental in Hannaford' s success in this endeavor is that each of its 183 stores has a team of hardworking individuals dedicated to rigidly following the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Food Recovery Hierarchy. After reducing surplus at the source of production, the Food Recovery Hierarchy advises that to create a more sustainable food system, we donate surplus product to food insecure individuals, followed by donations to local farmers for animal feed.
Food recovery and donation have long been staples of Hannaford operations. However, when donations are not feasible, Hannaford Supermarkets partners with Agri-Cycle to engage in the hierarchy's fourth tier, industrial repurposing. Based in Scarborough, Maine, Agri-
Cycle is a food waste recycling company that turns food into energy. Through this partnership, Hannaford has been able to fully realize their zero-food waste goal.
Achieving zero waste is an accomplishment on its own, but I would like to highlight the added difficulty to this task caused by the coronavirus pandemic. As the coronavirus waged on with no clear end in sight, our agriculture and food system industries were disrupted to an unprecedented degree. While shoppers began to decrease their number of supermarket visits to limit their exposure to the disease, they simultaneously began spending more per trip. Hannaford Supermarkets were able to not only weather this supply and demand shock, but also to divert all unsold food away from landfills.
New Hampshire's way of life is rooted in our natural surroundings and keeping our landfills as empty as possible is imperative to preserving the environment and our natural resources. Hannaford's pioneering curiosity has led to a landmark achievement in supermarket sustainability. Hannaford Supermarkets' continuing dedication to sustainability and service are immeasurable.
On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I want to congratulate Hannaford Supermarkets on the success of its sustainability initiative. I look forward to the continuation of their sustainability initiative and am hopeful about the example this can set for supermarkets across the Nation. Once again, I thank Hannaford Supermarkets for all that it does to protect our environment while also aiding food insecurity.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 67
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
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