Biodegradable & Recyclable Packaging

Origins:

Giant Eagle is passionately dedicated to business practices that protect and sustain the environment and the communities it serves, setting ambitious goals to reduce plastics, carbon emissions, and waste, and to offer more sustainable products to their customers. Specifically with plastics reduction, the organization has set a goal of eliminating 80M lbs. of plastics by 2030 from operations and packaging.

Contribution:

In 2024 alone, Giant Eagle eliminated 8 million pounds of plastic toward its goal. Efforts have focused on reducing non-recyclable plastics across operations, including improved recycling processes as well as introducing reusable crates and packaging changes within their Own Brands product lines. Three innovative programs within this work include their full loop system for plastic shopping bags, a fully biodegradable plastic bag for apples and pears, and their fully recyclable trays and tote programs for their Nature’s Basket chicken line.

Objectives:

Plastic shopping bags: Introduce 75% recycled-content plastic bags at registers. Fully biodegradable Midori-bio bags: Incorporate a fully biodegradable bag for apples and pears in partnership with CMI Orchards. Improved chicken packaging program: Implement fully recyclable trays and a reusable tote delivery program to reduce Styrofoam and cardboard while also reducing damaged product.

Impact:

Plastic shopping bags: By transitioning to 75% recycled content plastic bags, the company saves 3.5M pounds of plastic annually. However, the life cycle of their bags doesn’t end there. Giant Eagle has created a full loop system with shopping bag recycling bins at nearly every location. Bags are collected and routed to Trex Company, Inc., a manufacturer of wood-alternative composite decking, railing and other outdoor items made from recycled materials. Their NexTrex program takes the plastics we collect and turns them into eco-friendly outdoor products – all right in Virginia, USA.

Fully biodegradable Midori-bio bags: These bags, which hold all Market District and Nature’s Basket apples and pears, use an organic enzyme that breaks down plastic in an active landfill. Within 40 days in the landfill, +12% of the package will have decomposed, and within 2 to 5 years, the bag will be fully decomposed.

Improved chicken packaging program: Fresh chicken is the number one seller in Giant Eagle’s Nature’s Basket line of products. Historically, all meat trays were made of Styrofoam, so the company decided to focus on a high-selling product with a significant sustainable impact. In partnership with Fieldale Farms Corporation, Giant Eagle transitioned the packaging for its Nature’s Basket fresh chicken to fully recyclable trays. In addition, the chicken is delivered to stores in fully reusable plastic totes.

Quote:

“I’m proud to say that we are projected to outperform our elimination of 80 million pounds of plastic by 2030. We are a part of the community; we aren't on the sidelines. It's important that we are doing our part and helping to make sure that our communities are sustainable as well. We have a lot of customers that are thinking about how sustainability impacts their food and are making choices for themselves and their families to consume healthier products.”

– Cara Mercil, director, sustainability & corporate social responsibility, Giant Eagle

Support Statement:

"Giant Eagle is the only retailer pioneering a Midori Bio package that goes beyond biodegradable. These bags bioassimilate—breaking down completely without leaving microplastics—offering innovation that’s unmatched in the marketplace. This reflects the shared commitment of Giant Eagle and CMI to lead the retail industry with meaningful, science-backed solutions—proving that true sustainability means making bold choices today to protect our planet for tomorrow.”

– Rochelle Bohm, vice president of marketing, CMI Orchards