Our Approach to Sustainability
We require detailed systems that ensure effective oversight of all environmental operations. º£½ÇÂÛ̳’ global Environmental Management System (EMS) is designed to drive compliance with federal, state and local environmental requirements. Key components include an environmental policy, operational standards, task management and incident tracking software, compliance auditing, a learning management system and data mining.
Our EMS prioritizes environmental training and awareness, empowering our team members to address and mitigate potential issues such as waste management, energy consumption, water usage and air quality. We also conduct regular internal audits across all locations to verify the effectiveness of our EMS.
º£½ÇÂÛ̳ partners with utility providers and suppliers to conduct third-party energy audits. We use the results to identify potential actions to reduce energy in our operations. For example, in past audits, we have identified opportunities to install variable frequency drives on motors and install LED lighting retrofits. Sites review monthly energy use and explore ways to improve efficiency when tracked energy usage is higher than expected.
We are also evaluating new technology to reduce energy consumption in our operations, including using AI technology in our refrigeration control system. The technology provides visibility and insights into electricity consumption of refrigeration units and takes action to improve performance and reduce energy.
Water Stewardship
We integrate the latest science and engineering insights into our water stewardship approach, conducting annual reviews at our sites with Contextual Water Plans and targets and conducting regular water quality assessments consistent with water permitting guidelines.
We have adopted the International Water Stewardship Standard and Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard. Recognizing the importance of a water-sustainable future, we have also joined the World Resources Institute (WRI) Aqueduct Alliance to seek guidance on water stewardship efforts.
We collaborate with stakeholders in local watersheds to identify ways to manage water risks and stress, recognizing that solving water problems involves working closely with the communities where we operate.
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Eight º£½ÇÂÛ̳ plants have achieved Zero Waste to Landfill (ZWTL) validation through a combination of reducing product waste and reusing or recycling.
Through the validation program, sites are required to undergo waste audits to identify opportunities for improving waste performance and develop action plans to reduce waste. Enhanced training is provided to team members, and recycling programs are integrated into all plant operations. All ZWTL-validated sites have a goal to achieve at least 90% or greater landfill diversion and are verified through an independent third party annually.
Reducing Food Waste & Loss
At º£½ÇÂÛ̳, we strive to prevent human-edible food from ending up in a waste stream with year-over-year improvements. To support this work, we have developed a food waste and loss tracking and measurement system that uses real-time enterprise data.
To facilitate manageable portions for donation, we worked with repack partners to develop a solution to get more food into the charitable food system.
º£½ÇÂÛ̳ donates funds to food banks to develop repack facilities, where they can receive bulk food donations and repack into quantities suitable for consumers. Through this investment, we work to prevent food that is safe for human consumption from becoming waste.
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Our supply chain strategy involves pinpointing key areas with the most impact. We are prioritizing initiatives in our beef and row crop supply chains. Our aim is to help improve the livelihoods of farmers while also strengthening the overall resiliency of the U.S. agriculture system.
We have introduced the reduced carbon intensity beef—a pioneering initiative that combines rancher ingenuity with data and technology to advance agricultural practices that reduce GHG emissions and create transparency in the value chain.
The º£½ÇÂÛ̳ Local Grain Services (LGS) Sustain program supports farmers in adopting regenerative agriculture practices. LGS Sustain is a farmer-focused, collaborative initiative, shaped directly from farmer supplier insights to understand the support they need and want to adopt sustainable practices.