Food Makers Continue to Make Sustainability a Priority

Let’s take a look at some recent highlights.

Unilever’s tea division ekaterra is focused on becoming climate positive, while setting a target for net zero emissions by 2030. With brands, including Lipton, PG tips, and Tazo, ekaterra’s goals are reducing emissions, restoring biodiversity, and shifting fully to nature-based materials.

The tea company plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2030, use all recyclable packaging by 2025, and maintain no waste to landfill from its operations.

Conagra Brands recently honored employees who are keeping materials out of landfills through innovative recycling and waste reduction measures. Ten Conagra facilities across the U.S. and Canada, were awarded Zero Waste Champion status for diverting more than 95% of waste materials from landfills. In fiscal year 2021, 87% of the solid waste generated at all Conagra’s facilities was diverted to more beneficial uses, through recycling, product donations to area food banks, use as animal feed, energy generation, or land applications to improve soil quality.

The North American Meat Institute announced that all of its members will deliver independently approved, science-based, greenhouse gas reduction targets in line with the Paris Climate Agreement goals by 2030.

The Meat Institute’s new targets, released alongside its sustainability framework, are the latest commitments launched through the Protein PACT for the People, Animals, and Climate of Tomorrow, which unites 12 leading U.S. agricultural organizations, committed to taking measurable action to accelerate progress toward global development goals.

The Meat Institute will support its members in setting greenhouse gas reduction targets to be approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative, which independently assesses and approves companies' targets.

Mars bars sold in the U.K., Ireland, and Canada will be certified as carbon neutral by January 1, 2023. The new pledge represents tangible climate action, less than a month after Mars announced its commitment to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions across its full value chain by 2050.

The company aims to reduce the Mars bar carbon footprint by over 20% by 2023, and sustainably transform supply chain agricultural practices, including using satellite data to geomap cocoa farms, and accelerated partnerships with suppliers to produce dairy more sustainably.

Grupo Bimbo announced its commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. By doing this, Grupo Bimbo has become the first Mexican food company to commit to the Business Ambition for 1.5 °C and join the United Nation’s Race to Zero Campaign, with goals established and validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.

Bimbo plans to transition to 100% renewable energy, moving to lower carbon logistics and vehicles, implementing energy-efficiency strategies, and supporting suppliers and partners in reducing their emissions.

I’ve really just touched on the sustainability news covered by ProFood World in recent months. To learn about more food companies that are supporting environmental improvement, such as Mondelēz International, Knorr, Del Monte, Maple Leaf, and many more, visit profoodworld.com. 

And if your food plant has been recently involved in an innovative sustainability project, you could be an award winner. Now is the time to start preparing your entry for the annual Sustainability Excellence in Manufacturing Awards. Learn more about entry requirement, and view details about past winners, at pfwgo.to/sema.