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WASHINGTON—The retailer Giant Food and Divert, Inc., a circular economy company focused on preventing food waste, have announced a major sustainability milestone: the processing of nearly 80 million pounds of unsold food since 2022. This achievement is equivalent to mitigating more than 37,000 metric tons of CO2e, significantly reducing the environmental impact of food waste.
"Partnering with Divert has allowed us to make a tangible difference in reducing food waste and supporting our communities," said Diane Hicks, Senior Vice President of Operations at Giant Food. "Our commitment to sustainability is reflected in every facet of our operation. We’re proud to lead the way in transforming how the industry handles unsold food, and we’re excited to continue driving positive change for our customers, our communities, and the environment."
In June 2022, Giant Food partnered with Divert to implement a food recycling program across all 163 Giant Food stores in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. The initiative focuses on reducing the volume of unsold food sent to landfills by converting it into carbon-negative renewable energy and nutrient-rich soil amendments through anaerobic digestion, further supporting circular economy practices.
Beyond waste reduction, Giant Food has also increased its efforts to combat food insecurity. In 2024, the company donated more than 6.1 million pounds of food, equivalent to approximately 5.1 million meals. Through its Meat the Needs Program and Fresh Food Recovery, Giant Food collaborates with local food recovery organizations, food banks, churches, and Feeding America to redistribute nutritious food quickly to those in need. Together with Divert’s recycling program, Giant Food prevented over 35 million pounds of food from being wasted in 2024.
"Divert 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," said Ryan Begin, CEO and co-founder of Divert, Inc. "Together, 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’s also an illustration of what’s possible when we collaborate, commit to change, and reimagine our food systems for the better."
Click here for more information about Giant Food’s sustainability initiatives and partnership with Divert.
