5 ways Tops Markets prioritizes Earth-friendliness

Tops Friendly Markets is using BioFlex bags for its potatoes, a packaging that can be recycled as well as be biodegradable.

With Earth Day on April 22 approaching fast, Williamsville, N.Y.-based Tops Friendly Markets is highlighting the ongoing efforts the supermarket chain is making to maintain the health of the globe.

Tops operates 149 grocery stores in New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont, including five run by franchisees.

It’s in the bag

Tops is using BioFlex bags, instead of traditional plastic bags, for its potatoes.

“BioFlex ticked all the boxes for us: A quality product solution that is engineered to break down in landfills, all while diverting greenhouse gas emissions,” Jeff Cady, Tops director produce and floral, said in a news release. “A win-win.”

BioFlex incorporates technology that increases the natural microbial activity in modern landfills and contributes 19 times more energy than that of regular plastic, the release says. The packaging is U.S. Food and Drug Administration-compliant and safe for food contact. Also, BioFlex packaging can be designed to maintain recyclability.

Learn more on PMG: Potatoes, the commodity

“This new packaging is 100% recyclable and also biodegrades in landfills and converts into renewable methane gas,” Sterman Masser Inc. President David Masser said in the release. “Tops was the first retail chain to adopt this technology and has the most distribution to date.”

A kinder way to clean

Tops has a Full Circle line of products that are nontoxic, plant-based and free of dyes and fragrances. That’s better for shoppers and their families — plus, the environment.

The supplies range from detergent and ecofriendly paper towels to all-purpose cleaning sprays and bath tissue. The retailer calls it “a kinder way to clean.”

Charged up

Tops offers shoppers its first high-speed electric vehicle charging hub, located at a Tops store in LaGrangeville, N.Y.

This hub is due to a collaboration with Evolve NY and the New York Power Authority. But there could be more ways to further this project.

Tops is in talks with Tesla and other vendors to install more electric-vehicle charging stations in areas such as Erie, Livingston and Cattaraugus counties.

These charging stations are also in Williamsville, Rhinebeck and New Paltz, N.Y.

“Tops EV charging stations are environmentally conscious and convenient and tie perfectly into Tops' sustainability efforts and mission, reducing environmental waste and energy consumption all while providing our customers with sustainably sourced, high-quality products,” Kathy Sautter, Tops public and media relations manager, said in the release.

Let the sunshine in

In 2022, Tops continued to increase its use of solar energy by partnering with EDP Renewables to provide solar power to more stores. Together with Convergent Power and Energy and now EDP, 82 stores will have energy saving solar power.

Tops originally teamed up with Convergent in 2021 to deliver more renewable energy to upstate New Yorkers in the form of community solar paired with battery storage. The partnership allows Tops stores to be powered by solar farms, which reduces the stores’ carbon footprint. The solar-plus-storage projects developed by Convergent provide Tops and upstate New Yorkers access to solar energy — whether or not the sun is shining — and reduce the state’s reliance on power plants during peak demand hours.

“Convergent and EDP are dedicated to mitigating the impact of a warming planet on current and future generations by advancing the clean energy transition, so expanding a partnership of this nature seemed only fitting,” Sautter said.

semi truck — Heavy-duty trucks powered by compressed natural gas are a more sustainable alternative to trucks using diesel fuel. (Photo: Courtesy of Tops)

Running on Clean

Also in 2022, Tops enhanced its truck fleet even more by converting to 48 new compressed natural gas trucks with sustainability benefits. Fueled with clean-burning natural gas rather than diesel fuel, these trucks will eliminate 3,246 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year by fueling 1 million diesel gallon equivalents of renewable natural gas, according to the release.

That’s like eliminating:

33.4 million miles driven by a passenger vehicle.
502,034 incandescent lamps switched to LEDs.
563,607 trash bags of waste recycled instead of being placed in a landfill.

“Our ongoing commitment to sustainability is met with enthusiasm and resolve every day, as we work to ensure we leave our communities — and our planet — better for the next generation,” Tops President John Persons said in the release. “We are excited to be working with so many business partners whose values align with our environmental conservation vision.”