2018 Sustainability Excellence in Manufacturing Award, First Place Program Category: Smithfield Packaged Meats

Simple, cost-effective adjustments to smoker equipment prevents excessive liquid smoke loss. The company was losing 38 gallons of liquid smoke per day on its hot dog line, causing increased wastewater treatment surcharges. Now, a new blower system with air knives blows the excess liquid smoke off the baskets holding the hotdogs into a smoker holding tank. By making this simple change, Smithfield’s Kevan McCance explains how the plant saved close to $130,000 in a year by capturing the excess liquid smoke.