ProFood World is honoring outstanding sustainability achievements within the food and beverage processing industry with our 2025 Sustainability Excellence in Manufacturing Award.Â
This award recognizes manufacturing plants for their efforts in driving improved performance through sustainability, honoring those companies and individuals that seek to go beyond environmental compliance. Specifically, the awards focus on pollution prevention, enhanced environmental protection and stewardship, as well as compliance assurance.
Eligibility: Programs and projects must be completed and operational between November 2023 and December 2024.
Eligible programs include ongoing programs
Please be sure to submit your entry into the correct category and download the correct corresponding submission form.
The Program Category is defined as an ongoing program, company-wide or multi-facility. A zero waste to landfill program is an example (this takes ongoing effort to keep it in place).
» Download the Program Category Entry Form
View an example of a previous first-place program submission
The Project Category is defined as a one-time project (though it might later be rolled out to other facilities after completion of project at one facility). An example of a Project Category entry could be installing solar panels.
» Download the Project Category Entry Form
View an example of a previous first-place project submission
The Processor/Supplier Partnership Category is an opportunity for suppliers to be recognized for work they're doing together with processors. This could be submitted by the CPG or in its behalf by a supplier, but must have CPG approval to submit.
» Download the Processor/Supplier Partnership Category Entry Form
Multiple awards will be named in the Program, Project, and Processor/Supplier Partnership categories, including reduction in water and energy, waste conservation, pollution prevention, packaging materials reductions and more.
The 2025 Sustainability Excellence in Manufacturing Award winners will be honored in the August issue of ProFood World.
Sustainability Excellence in Manufacturing Awards Past Winners
2024
Program Category
Bob’s Red Mill, Milwaukie, OR.: Pallet Recovery Operations
Conagra Brands, Chicago, IL.: Sustainability Capital Allowance
SunOpta, Modesto, CA.: Zero Waste to Landfill
Processor/Supplier Partnership Category
Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative, Hinton, VA. & Grundfos, Brookshire, TX.: Water Conservation/Energy Savings
2022
Program Category
Conagra Brands, Fayetteville, Ark.: TRUE Certification – Zero Waste Facility
Project Category
Hormel Foods – Progressive Processing, Dubuque, Iowa: Reverse Osmosis Concentrate Reuse
Conagra Brands, Imlay City, Mich.: Steam Trap Optimization
Bob's Red Mill, Milwaukie, Ore.: Food Waste Reduction
Smithfield Packaged Meats, Kinston, N.C.: Plastic/Film Waste Reduction
2021
Project Category
Conagra Brands, Irapuato, Mexico: Saving Water for the Future
Smithfield Foods, Milan, Missouri: Reusable Combos
Conagra Brands, Marshall, Mo.: Blast Cell Air OptimizationÂ
Program Category
Conagra Brands, Oakdale, California: Tomato & Jalapeño Waste Reduction
Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods Milwaukie, Oregon: Wasted Food Rescue & Materials Management
Conagra Brands, Troy, Ohio: MEGA Pizza Yield Improvement
2020
Project Category
Smithfield Foods, Sioux City, IA: Cardboard Reduction
Smithfield Foods, Kinston, NC: Air Knife Energy Reduction
Tie: Conagra Brands, Maple Grove, MN: Pacing Paper Waste
Smithfield Foods, Kinston, NC: Packaging Reduction Project
Program Category
B&G Foods, Cincinnati, OH: Water Reduction
Conagra Brands, Menomonie, WI: Compressed Air, Steam, and Vacuum Leak Reduction
Tie: Conagra Brands, Waterloo, IA: Zero Waste Recycling Efforts
Conagra Brands, Fennville, MI: Cherry Fresh Pack Water Reduction
Processor/Supplier Partnership Category
Liffey Meats, Ireland, and Graphic Packaging International: PaperSeal Tray
2019
Project Category
McCormick & Company
Smithfield Foods
Hiland Dairy
Conagra Brands
Program Category
Smithfield Foods
Conagra Brands
Smithfield Foods
2018
Keystone Foods
Campbell Soup Company
Smithfield Packaged Meats
McCormick & Company
Program Category
Smithfield Packaged Meats
Land O’Lakes
2017
Project Category
Smithfield
Hiland Dairy Foods
Keystone Foods
Smithfield Packaged Food Group
Land O'Lakes
Program Category
Snyder's-Lance Inc.
Conagra Brands
Hormel Foods
Smithfield
2016
Project Category
Snyder's-Lance, Inc.
Pepperidge Farm
Keystone Foods
Program Category
Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Packaged Food Group
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
2015
Project Category
Snyder's-Lance, Inc.
Pepperidge Farm
Keystone Foods
Program Category
Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Packaged Food Group
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
For more information, please contact:
Derrick Teal, Editor-in-Chief, ProFood World
[email protected]
248-499-0677
Learn more about grants available from EPA
View food manufacturing pollution prevention techniques from EPA
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