ConAgra Foods, Inc., announced on April 5 five sustainability goals to be achieved by 2015. This is the first time ConAgra Foods has set company-wide sustainability goals.
Goals for 2015 include:
- Greenhouse gas emissions: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% per pound of product produced as compared to 2008 emissions.
- Water: Reduce water use by 15% per pound of product produced as compared to 2008 water use.
- Solid waste: Divert solid waste from landfills by at least 75% as compared to 2011 levels.
- Packaging: As compared to 2008, the company will: (a) reduce packaging by 10% per pound of product produced, (b) increase the amount of packaging made of renewable resources from 45% to more than 50%, and (c) increase the use of recycled content in packaging overall by 25%.
- Supply chain engagement: Encourage continuous improvement of the supply chain in the areas of energy, water, materials and waste. Work with growers to further enhance sustainable farming practices that optimize yield while improving land stewardship.
"We've set these new transparent sustainability goals to ensure we are a leader in continuously improving the way we make food, and to continue to create more awareness for what others can do to improve as well," said Gary Rodkin, ConAgra Foods CEO.
Recent Sustainability Accomplishments
Since 2007, ConAgra Foods has measured distinct sustainability projects that have reduced carbon emissions by more than 25,000 metric tons, eliminated 4,000 tons of landfill waste and 7,000 tons of packaging materials, and conserved 348 million gallons of water.
According to ConAgra it was also the first company in North America to use post-consumer recycled plastic in its frozen meal trays, diverting 8 million pounds of plastic from landfills annually.
The company was the winner of the World Packaging Organization's prestigious WorldStar Award for Hunt's Ketchup, designed to be compatible with bottle-to-bottle recycling.
Opening in November 2010, ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston's environmentally friendly sweet potato processing plant in Delhi, La., will be one of the first food plants in the country using the newest and best processing and packaging technologies in the industry and following LEED standards for environmentally sustainable construction.
Also within the companys frozen potato platform, the Quincy, Wash., plant recently became one of only three potato plants in the nation to earn the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys ENERGY STAR.
