We actively pursue growth through leadership in environmental, socially responsible and ethical business practices. Corporate social responsibility is core to our operating philosophy, and that commitment drives our dedication to People, Products, Community and the Planet. That commitment extends to our supply chain, and our suppliers play a critical role in ensuring that we manage our business in a responsible manner.
Open Carry
Albertsons Companies respectfully asks customers to not openly carry firearms in our stores unless they are authorized law enforcement officers.
Supply Chain Transparency
The California Transparency in Supply Chains Act was signed into law and went into effect on January 1, 2012. The Act requires certain companies to disclose their efforts, if any, to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their direct supply chains. The required disclosures relate to five specific areas: verification, audits, certification, internal accountability, and training.
Albertsons Companies supports the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act and remains committed to comply with all applicable laws.
Verification:
We continuously seek opportunities to verify our product supply chains to evaluate and address any risks of human trafficking and slavery.
Audits:
We evaluate on an ongoing basis what, if any, audits may be conducted to determine supplier compliance with standards prohibiting human trafficking and slavery in our supply chains.
Certification:
Currently, our process requires our suppliers to confirm that the materials incorporated into the merchandise they supply to us comply with applicable laws regarding slavery and human trafficking. This would include any subcontractor used in the manufacturing or distribution of any of our products or merchandise.
Internal Accountability:
Our process further requires our employees and contractors to comply with our anti-slavery and trafficking standards, which prohibits the use of forced labor in our supply chain. Failure to comply may result in discipline up to, and including, termination of employment or contract.
Training:
As we continue to enhance our program, we are examining targeted training opportunities and explore processes to verify, and audit, certifications to ensure compliance.
Supplier Sustainability Guidelines
Albertsons Companies is always working to improve the sustainability of our products, and one big way we can do that is to look at the ingredients we use. Our sourcing team is shifting our buying choices toward ingredients that were produced in more socially and environmentally responsible ways.
Learn More about our supplier sustainability guidelines
Environment Policy
We are guided by a commitment to protect the planet we live in, conserve its natural resources and preserve it for future generations. The health and vitality of our neighborhoods depends on our ability to achieve this.
There are many ethical standards that guide our environmental efforts and assure we do our part to protect against any harmful impacts. It is Albertsons Companies policy to:
- Conduct our business and operate our facilities in an environmentally responsible manner
- Comply with all applicable environmental laws and regulations
- Minimize waste and reduce pollution sources in our stores, corporate offices, and manufacturing and distribution facilities
- Minimize our environmental liabilities in the acquisition and disposition of properties
- Encourage and assist our customers, vendors and employees in utilizing sound environmental practices
We also believe every Albertsons Companies employee has a responsibility to minimize the environmental impact of his or her job whenever possible. This includes following all laws, regulations, rules and standards, and making appropriate reports to management and regulatory agencies. Environmental stewardship is an important part of the character of our company, and we encourage our employees to improve the company’s environmental performance.
GE Salmon
Albertsons Companies relies on the FDA to set minimum regulatory requirements. Beyond FDA guidelines, we subject our fresh seafood vendors to a selection process that includes confirming compliance with regulations and food safety standards, as well as a review of the environmental impact of the product sourcing.
Should GE salmon come to market, we are not considering nor do we have any plans to carry GE salmon.
Responsible Seafood Policy and Commitment
BPA
Bisphenol A, more commonly known as BPA, is an industrial chemical that has been used for more than 40 years in the manufacture of many hard plastic items and in the linings of metal cans. It is used in some packaging and utensils for food and beverages such as plastic water bottles and infant bottles, children’s drinking cups, and hard plastic dishes. In January 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states: “… studies employing standardized toxicity tests have thus far supported the safety of current low levels of human exposure to BPA. However, on the basis of results from recent studies using novel approaches to test for subtle effects, both the National Toxicology Program at the National Institutes of Health and the FDA have some concern about the potential effects of BPA” on the health of infants and young children. The FDA continues to conduct in-depth studies regarding risks related to BPA. However, consumers still have legitimate questions about the safety of BPA.
While Albertsons Companies private label products are compliant with FDA regulations, we also understand that BPA in food containers, and other packaging and products, poses a concern for some consumers. In response to these concerns, Albertsons Companies food safety team has been closely monitoring third-party research on BPA and its effects. We have asked industry trade associations such as the Food Marketing Institute and the Grocery Manufacturers of America to do the same. The company’s principal objective has been to find ways to limit the presence of BPA in several areas.
For example, our immediate priority was to remove BPA from products that commonly are used by small children, including baby bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers and utensils. Several years ago, we notified our suppliers that we would no longer accept products such as these. That transition happened in all stores, not just those where specific BPA-free packaging is mandated by law.
Albertsons Companies has been working with private label product suppliers to identify acceptable alternatives to packaging containing BPA. It is our desire as a company to use BPA-free packaging for as many products as possible. We expect to make the transition on an ongoing basis as new options become commercially available. In the meantime, using alternatives that are currently available, we have made notable packaging and product changes. In addition to those changes noted to the above children’s products, we have eliminated the use of register paper containing BPA. We now utilize alternative packaging including aseptic pour cartons on some products, including O Organics soups.
For customers who have additional concerns and are looking for ways to reduce their exposure to BPA, we suggest they visit the FDA’s website on BPA. The site contains helpful links to scientific information and tips on reducing exposure.
GMO
At the Albertsons Companies, we believe that shoppers should always have a choice in selecting products that align with their lifestyle and budgets. As part of our ongoing efforts to provide that option, we require that all Albertsons Companies brand suppliers meet USDA and FDA regulations. To date, the USDA, FDA and available science make no health or nutrition distinction between approved Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) and non-GMO products and ingredients.
Our stores carry more than 45,000 products. This includes approximately 9,500 of our own brand products. For instance:
- Our O Organics™ line meets USDA organic standards, which do not allow the use of GMO ingredients. Albertsons Companies further requires that all of its O Organic™ suppliers obtain third-party organic certification;
- Albertsons Companies Open Nature® line of products, which contain no preservatives or artificial flavors and already include a number of non-GMO products. We’ve begun the process to obtain Non-GMO Project verification for our Open Nature product line;
- Our stores also carry a wide array of organic produce; and
- Minimize our environmental liabilities in the acquisition and disposition of properties
- All of our Lucerne brand dairy milk products are rBST free.
For our shoppers whose lifestyle and or budgetary choices do not focus on non-GMO, we continue to provide an extensive selection of conventional private label and national brand products.
Although Albertsons Companies supports the voluntary labeling of products making non-GMO or GMO-free claims, we are also committed to continuing to provide our customers with choices across our many categories and brands.
Chemical Policy
At Albertsons Companies, we understand that consumers want to feel good about the products they buy. That’s why we’re committed to quality, product safety, environmental stewardship and sound chemical management, including limiting the use of certain ingredients of consumer concern. We require all of our suppliers to ensure their products and packaging to comply with legal and regulatory guidelines and requirements. We strive for greater transparency and work with our supplier community to maintain and continually improve our products. Examples include the following:
- Per our Supplier Sustainability Guidelines and Expectations, we encourage our suppliers to limit the use of all non-essential chemicals, including those in California’s Proposition 65 and pesticides of concern for pollinator health as outlined by the U.S. EPA. We also encourage suppliers to avoid regrettable substitution.
- As part of our Plastics and Packaging Pledge for 2025, we are actively working with our Own Brands suppliers to further our long term, comprehensive efforts to phase out the use of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and phthalates in food packaging.
- All Own Brand baby products are paraben, phthalate and triclosan free.
- We have worked with industry experts to replace certain prepared food and bakery product packaging to remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
- As a result of our multi-year BPA initiative, more than 300 Own Brands canned goods are now packaged in non-BPA lined cans. This represents more than 80% of our Own Brands canned offerings. The process of transitioning to non-BPA lined cans will continue until the conversion reaches 100%. Converted cans are identifiable by “BPA Free” and “Non-BPA Lining” disclosure logos. As advancements are made in the scientific community, we will continue to modify our policy as needed. See our BPA Position Statement for additional information.
- In addition to complying with legal and regulatory guidelines, our Own Brands have brand-specific standards that our suppliers must follow. For example, our Open Nature™ line of products has a Restricted Substances List that includes more than 100 ingredients of consumer concern, including parabens, artificial colors and flavors, and certain preservatives and packaging.
- Our O Organics™ products are United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) certified organic (95%+ organic ingredients) and must meet USDA’s standards to receive the certified organic seal. By definition, USDA organic products are free of synthetic additives like pesticides, fertilizers, and dyes, and must not be processed using industrial solvents.
- Our Own Brands Safer Choice-certified products must adhere to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Safer Chemical Ingredients List. This list has been evaluated by the EPA and determined to be safer than traditional ingredients. We have received the EPA’s Safer Choice Partner of the Year Award four times for our commitment to participating in and increasing awareness of the Safer Choice Program.
At-Sea Transshipment of Tuna
Albertsons Companies is committed to improvements in at-sea transshipment practices through increased visibility in our tuna supply chains. At-sea transshipment – the transfer of fish, supplies, or other cargo between vessels at sea – is a relatively common practice in tuna fisheries that operate far from shore. Such remote locations, sometimes thousands of miles offshore, are vulnerable to labor abuses, and the industry is challenged with finding ways to ensure that worker rights are upheld.
As part of our Responsible Seafood Program, we work with our tuna suppliers to improve the transparency of our seafood supply chain by collecting key data elements for each product we receive, conducting traceability studies, and relying on third-party audits. As outlined in our Supplier Expectations & Supply Chain Accountability letter, our vendors are required to provide information on any at-sea transshipment event(s) related to any fresh, frozen, or shelf-stable tuna products to ensure traceability down to the vessel and trip level, and to help assess risk. In addition, our Vendor Code of Conduct stipulates that the use of forced labor in any form is unacceptable. We are working industry-wide to advocate for the adoption of at-sea transshipment practices that ensure that workers are fairly treated and that tuna are sustainably harvested.
We are also working with our suppliers to identify industry-wide best practices and recommend the following to improve the transparency of the at-sea transshipment of tuna:
- Monitoring and Oversight: Require all vessels taking part in at-sea transshipment to be electronically monitored and all transshipment events to be appropriately notified , recorded, and monitored with human or electronic observer(s).
- Transparency: Provide at-sea transshipment documents upon request, including post-activity declarations and supporting documentation referencing authorization to transship in Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMO) waters.
- Worker Protections: Require that all at-sea transshipment activities adhere to national and international regulations related to vessel and crew safety and worker protections.
- Advocacy: Demonstrate support for strengthened at-sea transshipment regulations, international agreements advocating for human rights at sea, and counter-IUU (illegal, unreported, unregulated) fishing legislation.
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[i] All vessels report transshipment events to the relevant regulatory authorities; All vessels authorized to transship have an International Maritime Organization (IMO) number; All transshipment vessels are flagged to, or are in cooperation with, a regional fisheries management organization (RFMO)
[ii] These include but are not limited to, national limits to time spent at national limits to time spent at sea, vessel safety inspections, appropriate protocols and equipment for crew injuries, and similar observer safety measures.