San Diego Albertsons' Stores "Chip" in for Ocean Conservation

San Diego Albertsons' Stores "Chip" in for Ocean Conservation

Albertsons' Grocery Stores, already known for their community involvement and environmental stewardship, this month has stepped up and accepted a radio station's challenge and is "chipping in" for ocean conservation.

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) May 23, 2007

Albertsons' Grocery Stores, already known for their community involvement and environmental stewardship, this month has stepped up and accepted a radio station's challenge and is "chipping in" for ocean conservation.

A popular local San Diego radio station 94.1FM, recently interviewed the co owners of Whale Tails Tortilla Chips, an organic tortilla chip shaped like a whale's tail. Jerry of the "Jeff and Jer " morning radio show followed up the interview by challenging all major grocery chains to show their support of ocean conservation by adding this delicious tortilla chip, who's goal is to provide sustainable funding for marine conservation, to their snack aisle.

Lori Iller, Center Store Specialist for San Diego Albertsons, was listening to the radio interview as she drove to work and decided to give Terry Kraszewski of Whale Tails Tortilla Chips a call. Terry spoke with Ms Iller and explained that Whale Tails Tortilla Chips was established to encourage, facilitate, and administer sustainable funding for ocean conservation. Terry said, "our goal, through the sale of our tortilla chips, is to unify ocean conservation groups to help solve problems within the marine environment, and build cooperation and dialog at the same time. Whale Tails Tortilla Chips pledges a minimum of 10 percent to ocean conservation groups." Terry said, "we call this our ocean tax, believing our company has a responsibility to conserve and protect the natural resource that every living thing on the planet is completely linked to and dependent upon. Our environmental commitment as well as our unsurpassed quality has resulted in Whale Tails Tortilla Chips acceptance and the loyalty of our customers."

Adding Whale Tails Tortilla Chips is a perfect compliment to Albertsons already recognized role in environmental stewardship. Albertsons' Environmental Stewardship Council has long been committed to supporting programs that improve our environment while encouraging others to become more aware of what they can do to become better stewards of the environment. Of particular concern to both Albertsons and Whale Tails Tortilla Chips is the amount of plastic that ends up in our oceans. A United Nations environmental program report estimated that there are an average of 46,000 pieces of plastic debris floating on or near the surface of every square mile of ocean. Californians use more than 19 billion plastic grocery bags each year, creating 147,038 tons of waste in our landfills. With Californians throwing away over 600 bags per second, they are creating enough waste every year to circle the planet over 250 times. When you consider that this plastic does not biodegrade and remains in our ecosystems permanently, we are looking at an incredibly high volume of accumulated plastic trash. Where does it go? There are only three places it can go: our earth, our air and our oceans.

To promote community recycling and provide a solution Albertson's stores are listed on the Earth's 911 website (www. earths911.org) as a collection center for plastic bags. Albertsons has won the WRAP award five times. The WRAP awards are made by the California Integrated Waste Management Board -- the state's primary recycling agency. Albertson's, as a company, recycles 50 percent of its waste stream, including 4,363 tons of plastic grocery bags and pallet wrap at 744 sites in California. To close the plastics recycling loop, Albertson's purchases benches made of recycled plastic lumber for its new and remodeled stores.

Whale Tails Tortilla Chips and Albertsons are both participants in California's Coastal Cleanup Day, the premier volunteer event of the California Coastal Commission. Over the years, more than 700,000 volunteers have picked up over 11 million pounds of trash. Coastal Cleanup Day helps remind all Californians that our everyday actions have broad implications for the health and well‐being of our oceans and waterways. John Bernardo of Albertsons' Environmental Stewardship Council says, "waste is anything that is not an asset and nothing but lack of imagination." Over the past few years Albertson's has made it a priority to reduce waste and maximize resources, implementing energy-saving policies like dimming the lights in its stores and helping to develop a 100% recyclable container for shipping produces.

Now Albertsons would like to applaud Whale Tails Tortilla Chips for its commitment to marine conservation and lend their support by giving Albertsons' shoppers the opportunity to select this great tasting organic tortilla chip the next time they are in the snack aisle.

Even if you don't believe in global warming, or that humans are the cause, what's the downside in being kinder to the environment where you can? Albertsons and Whale Tails Tortilla Chips are making our choices easier and yes, even delicious. The choices each of us as consumers make can have a big impact on a brighter tomorrow for our oceans and our entire planet.

More information on Whale Tails Tortilla Chips available at www. whaletailschips. com

More information on Albertsons contact Lilia Rodriguez at (714) 300-6438

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