ProFood World's 2022 Sustainability Excellence in Manufacturing Awards competition has ended, but stay tuned for our 2023 competition, in which we will recognize outstanding food and beverage processing and packaging innovation projects.Â
These annual peer-reviewed awards recognize 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.
This year's submissions will be due March 18, 2024. Check back here for submission forms later this year.
Eligibility: Programs and projects must be completed and operational between November 2022 and December 2023.
Examples:
A Program Category entry could be zero waste to landfill. (This takes ongoing effort to keep it in place.)
A Project Category entry could be installing solar panels. (This requires normal maintenance.)
View an example of a previous first-place program submission
View an example of a previous first-place project submission
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.
Sustainability Excellence in Manufacturing Awards Past Winners
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
Smithfield Foods
Conagra Brands
Smithfield Foods2018
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:
Aaron Hand, Editor in Chief of ProFood World
Phone: 312-488-3392
[email protected]
Learn more about grants available from EPA
View food manufacturing pollution prevention techniques from EPA
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