In 2006 Safeway laid the formal framework for its Greenhouse Gas and Sustainability Program in response to California's AB-32 legislation. The Company coupled several existing environmental projects with a number of new strategic initiatives aimed at significantly reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.

As a large private-sector employer and commercial consumer of energy, Safeway strives to be a leader in forgoing innovative solutions to achieve a cleaner, healthier environment. We launched a comprehensive, long-term Greenhouse Gas (GHG) and Sustainability Initiative with the goal to reduce our company's carbon footprint and improve air quality and the environment in the communities we serve. Toward that end, we set out to determine Safeway's current carbon baseline so we could implement cost-effective measure to reduce the baseline, improve profitability and achieve environmental sustainability.

Gases that trap the heat of the sun in the Earth's atmosphere, producing the greenhouse effect. The two major greenhouse gases are water vapor and carbon dioxide. Other greenhouse gases include methane, ozone, chlorofluorcarbons, and nitrous oxide. Greenhouse Gases are transparent to solar radiation but opaque to long-wave radiation. Their action is similar to that of glass in a greenhouse. For the purposes of the Kyoto Protocol, GHGs are the following six gases: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N20), hydroflurocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulphur hexafluoride (SF5).

Safeway partners with leading governmental and private entities to reduce our carbon footprint, including Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) and California Climate Action Registry (CCAR), to name a few.

Results in 2006 surpassed our expectations. All told, we implemented measures that reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by more than 320,000 metric tons or 700 million pounds. That's equivalent to removing 69,000 cars from the road annually or 267,000 acres of pine or fir trees storing carbon for a year. These reductions included approximately:

120,000 metric tons through strategic electricity purchases;

79,000 metric tons through the application of technology, process improvements and education;

55,000 metric tons through renewable energy purchases; and 66,000 metric tons through a wide range of efficiency initiatives and technologies with our truck fleet.

Results in 2006 exceeded our expectations. All told, we implemented measures that reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by more than 320,000 metric tons or 700 million pounds. That’s equivalent to removing 69,000 cars from the road annually or 267,000 acres of pine or fir trees storing carbon for a year. These reductions included approximately:

120,000 metric tons through strategic electricity purchases

79,000 metric tons through the application of technology, process improvements and education

55,000 metric tons through renewable energy purchases

66,000 metric tons through a wide range of efficiency initiatives and technologies with our truck fleet

The world's first and North America’s only voluntary, legally binding rules based greenhouse gas emissions allowance trading system. CCX members reflect a cross-section of major public and private sector North American enteritis. Safeway is the first retail sector member to join CCX.

California's only official registry for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reduction projects. CCAR will have an active role in California's implementation of AB-32.

Renewable Energy (or “green” power) is electricity generated by resources that can be easily restored and produce zero to little pollution. Wind, solar, biomass and low-impact hydro are just a few examples of green power.

Energy generated from using sunlight either to create electron flow in a photovoltaic cell or to heat a fluid that is used in the operation of a turbine-generator or engine.

Safeway is currently developing approximately two dozen solar projects across the State of California. When complete the projects should provide approximately 7,500 MWH's of solar energy per year. There are a myriad of pieces that must fit together to make solar economics work with no two projects being exactly the same. Safeway will gain experience with a couple dozen installations to help determine how solar power will enhance the long-term energy portfolio.

Energy generated from turbine generator powered by wind. Safeway's wind energy comes from newly constructed wind turbine generators. Instead of using conventionally generated electricity, which is one of the largest causes of air pollution, we use environmentally friendly wind generated power as our renewable energy electricity source.

Safeway has committed to purchase 90 million KWH of renewable wind energy a year through 2008. This is enough energy to power 100% of Safeway’s 300+ Fuel Stations, our corporate facilities and all of our San Francisco and Boulder stores. Safeway began its green power program in 2005 and is the only gasoline retailer in the U.S. to power all its fuel stations with 100% renewable wind energy.

By reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, Safeway is taking action to reduce the company's carbon footprint, address climate change and reduce air pollution. For every kilowatt hour of renewable power Safeway uses, it displaces an equal amount of conventional or "brown" power and the associated pollutants. Safeway is committed to investing in the communities we serve. Improving the environment is one way that Safeway gives back to the community.

San Gorgonio Pass, about 18 miles west of Palm Springs, California

Montezuma Hills, Rio Vista Area in California

Near Lamar and Springfield, Colorado

Waymart, Pennsylvania

Near Edgeley and Kulm, North Dakota

Near Kennewick, Washington

Custer County, Oklahoma

Abilene, Texas

Safeway’s annual purchase removes 55,000 tons of carbon dioxide, a leading greenhouse gas, from the air we breathe. This is the same as planting 45,000 acres of trees.

Safeway is the 7th largest retail purchaser of green power in the U.S., joining the elite group of companies on the EPA Green Power Partnership’s Top 25 list.

Safeway retail and support facilities participate in a comprehensive set of recycling programs and share best practices across the company. These programs divert solid waste from landfills to recycling centers and re-use programs. In California, we divert over 85% of our stores' solid waste from landfill disposal. Nationally, our recycling programs diverted almost 500,000 tons of waste. We have participated in the California Integrated Waste Management Board’s annual Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP) continuously since 1994, receiving WRAP awards in each of the last five years, and were named a WRAP of the Year (WOTY) award winner in 2005.

No strategy would have long-term sustainability without employee understanding and support. To that end, Safeway is implementing an ongoing, continuously updated employee communication and education program regarding GHG emissions, environmental stewardship and the company's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. Our "Power to Save" employee education initiative includes 10 easy energy-saving tips for employees who work in our stores. Each month a different energy-saving strategy is played via video in a continuous loop in employee break rooms. We also include periodic environmental video spots and stories in the electronic and print versions of the organization’s employee newsletter, In Focus.

Sustaining environmental benefits is just as important as achieving the initial results. Mindful of this, we have implemented a multi-pronged strategy to keep the organization moving forward. A central focus of this strategy is employee awareness of climate change and the tools to help manage its impacts. Employee education, energy conservation, process improvement, efficient building design, recycling and other key elements of responsible environmental stewardship are critical to managing the future performance of our sustainability efforts. Safeway has demonstrated its long-term commitment to addressing climate change. We were the first and only retailer to join both the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), the world’s first and North America’s only voluntary, legally binding greenhouse gas emissions reduction registry and trading program, and the California Climate Action Registry, the state’s official registry for GHG reduction projects in 2006. Currently we are working with both organizations to develop our carbon baseline. Through CCX we legally committed to reduce our carbon footprint by 6% from our 2000 baseline by 2011.

Absolutely, we have received the following awards:
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2008 IEA/CMTA/CICC Environmental Responsibility & Sustainability Award

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2008 Breathe California Clean Air Award

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2008 San Francisco Bay Region Metropolitan Transportation Commission Award for Safeway’s GHG Reduction Initiative

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2008 San Francisco Business Times Green Business Awards

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2007 California Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award for Climate Change

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2007 State of California Flex Your Power Award for Energy Conservation

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2007 Breath Clean Air Awards

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Award Winning Recycling Programs

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City of Pasadena Outstanding Recycler Award – 2007

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Waste Reduction Award Program Recipient 2002-2007

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City of San Diego Recycler of the Year – 2006

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2005 EPA Green Power Purchaser of the Year Award