Kroger Is Reducing Single-Use Plastics—Plus 4 Other Companies Striving for Sustainability

February may be the shortest month of the year, but we still saw some major accomplishments in sustainability efforts in the last 28 days. Each month, we round up a list of companies that are prioritizing the planet—and February is no different. We saw plenty of steps in a more sustainable direction.

As conscious consumers, we're demanding sustainable and ethical business practices across industries. And while there's still a lot to be done to combat the effects of global warming and climate change, many businesses are taking action.

Check out how these companies are making sustainable changes to their supply chains and business practices. And be sure to push other brands you love to do better, too.

5 Companies Making Sustainable Changes

1. Kroger

Kroger is America's biggest grocery store retailer, which is why it's so important for the company to lead the sustainable shopping revolution. According to a recent press release, Kroger is partnering with Loop to replace single-use plastic packaging with reusable packaging on select products.

Soon, 25 Kroger-owned Fred Meyer stores located in the Portland area will carry over 20 leading consumer brand products packaged in reusable containers. Included brands are Arbor Teas, Cascade, Clorox, Gerber, Nature's Heart, Nature's Path, Pantene, Seventh Generation, and Stubb's. Even Kroger's Simple Truth brand will also have reusable packaging.

The reusable containers are refillable—all consumers need to do is return the empty container to the appropriate bin at their local Kroger store. Then, the container will get sent back to Loop to be cleaned and refilled.

Loop is a platform that allows for a circular method of reusing product packaging, aiming to decrease landfill waste and offering sustainable ways to shop. The company is partnering with leading retailers to create accessible reusable products, so consumers can shop easily and with the planet in mind.

And Loop isn't just partnering with Kroger; it's also partnering with Ulta, Walgreens, and Burger King. Plus, Loop is international, with partnerships around the globe.

2. AT&T

By 2035, AT&T aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the globe. To make this goal come to life, the company is expanding its commitment to renewable energy. This month, AT&T purchased 155 megawatts (MW) of solar power from Vitol, one of the leading energy and commodities companies.

Specifically, the newly acquired solar energy supports projects in Maryland and Pennsylvania, bringing clean, renewable electricity to AT&T in an effort to reduce the company's carbon footprint. The bulk of AT&T's environmental footprint comes from electricity, so using renewable energy could be a major gamechanger in the race to reach zero emissions. The solar arrays are expected to generate roughly 300 construction jobs in Maryland and up to another 300 in Pennsylvania. Projects are rolling out within the next two years.

In 2019, the company purchased 500 MW of solar energy from Invenergy's Samson Solar Energy Center in Texas. And this year's purchase represents the company's dedication to reaching its carbon-neutral goals.

3. Kraft Heinz

Plant-based foods are on the rise, and the Kraft Heinz Company is hopping on the trend. Kraft Heinz is partnering with The Not Company (NotCo) to create vegan versions of beloved products—without compromising deliciousness.

NotCo is a food-tech company working to provide plant-based alternatives to animal-derived foods. So it's possible that this partnership will give us plant-based Lunchables or vegan Velveeta mac and cheese quite soon!

Animal products notoriously take a toll on wildlife and the environment, so opting for plant-based products can drastically decrease your carbon footprint. And now that Kraft Heinz is working toward making more vegan options available, it'll be easier for consumers to make plant-based swaps.

However, there's still a lot to be learned about the joint venture. There's no update on when we'll see vegan Kraft Heinz products in stores, but hopefully, it's on the horizon.

4. Oakley

Oakley is a go-to brand for sports equipment, from sunglasses and goggles to outerwear and backpacks. The brand is currently aiming to be more transparent about its environmental impacts and to set sustainability goals. And now, the brand even has a mindful golf shirt collection that reduces pollution.

Oakley's Reduct Polo features CiCLO fibers, focusing on how products will eventually break down when they're discarded. CiCLO technology adds a sustainable textile ingredient to fabrics like nylon and polyester—helping synthetic materials biodegrade like natural fibers.

Oakley's Reduct golf polo doesn't take as long to biodegrade as typical synthetically made clothes, thus, it helps reduce plastic pollution caused by synthetic textiles in landfills.

5. Chevron

Fossil fuel emissions are one of the leading global warming contributors. To lower the environmental impact of fuel, Chevron Corp is making a big investment. The oil and gas producer is buying Renewable Energy Group (REG), one of the founding companies in the renewable fuel industry.

According to a press release, the purchase represents Chevron’s effort to increase renewable fuels production. Chevron will acquire shares of REG in a transaction of $3.15 billion. By 2030, Chevron aims to increase fuel production capacity to 100,000 barrels per day.