Giant Food, a leading greater Washington, D.C. regional grocery chain, and Divert, Inc., a circular economy company on a mission to prevent food from being wasted, announced a milestone of nearly 80 million pounds of unsold food products processed since 2022, the equivalent of mitigating more than 37,000 metric tons of CO2e.
鈥淧artnering with Divert has allowed us to make a tangible difference in reducing food waste and supporting our communities,鈥� said Diane Hicks, Senior Vice President of Operations at Giant Food. 鈥淥ur commitment to sustainability is reflected in every facet of our operation. We鈥檙e proud to lead the way in transforming how the industry handles unsold food, and we鈥檙e excited to continue driving positive change for our customers, our communities, and the environment.鈥�
In June 2022, Divert launched a recycling program with Giant Food to reduce the amount of unsold food products going to landfill and to transform that material into beneficial products. The collaboration includes all 163 stores under the Giant Food banner across Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. For food that cannot be marked down in stores or donated, Divert leverages anaerobic digestion to process the material into carbon-negative renewable energy and nutrient-rich soil amendment鈥攖hereby recouping the value of the food and advancing circularity.
In addition to these environmental milestones, Giant Food has significantly increased its community impact by donating more than 6.1 million pounds of food in 2024鈥攅quivalent to approximately 5.1 million meals1. Through Giant Food鈥檚 Meat the Needs Program and Fresh Food Recovery, each Giant Food store partners with local food recovery partners such as churches, soup kitchens, local food banks, and Feeding America to donate wholesome food for quick distribution. This commitment not only helps fight food insecurity but also reinforces the company鈥檚 dedication to sustainability and responsible resource management. Together with the implementation of Divert鈥檚 recycling program and Giant Food鈥檚 food donations, the company prevented over 35 million pounds of food from being wasted in 2024.
鈥淒ivert is proud of the meaningful impact we have achieved through our long-standing partnership with Ahold Delhaize USA and Giant Food, true trailblazers for sustainability in the food retail industry,鈥� said Ryan Begin, CEO and co-founder, Divert, Inc. 鈥淭ogether, we are advancing a circular economy and transforming how we manage our resources. Not only is this an incredible milestone for Divert and Giant Food, but it鈥檚 also an illustration of what鈥檚 possible when we collaborate, commit to change, and reimagine our food systems for the better.鈥�