Smithfield Foods Targets Food Loss, Waste Reduction with New Sustainability Goals
Protein producer and food processing company Smithfield Foods announced today a new target to reduce overall food loss and waste in its U.S company-owned operations by 50% by 2030.
With its new commitment, Smithfield Foods stated that it is joining the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) U.S Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions list of private businesses and organizations which have publicly committed to reducing food loss and waste, joining companies including Amazon, Walmart, Unilever and PepsiCo.
Today’s announcement follows the launch of a series of sustainability commitments in June 2021, including 2030 targets to reduce GHG emissions across the company’s domestic supply chain 30%, and to obtain 50% of its electricity from renewable sources. The new goal also aligns the company’s efforts to reduce overall waste sent to landfills by 75%, and reach zero-waste-to-landfill certification at three-quarters of its U.S. facilities by 2025.
Smithfield Foods stated that the company has also accepted an invitation to join the 10x20x30 initiative, which brings together 10+ of the the world’s largest food retailers and providers to engage at least 20 suppliers to reduce food loss and waste by half by 2030.
Stewart Leeth, Chief Sustainability Officer for Smithfield Foods, said:
“For years, Smithfield has spearheaded impactful programs to proactively minimize waste and reduce carbon emissions. Simultaneously, we’ve taken meaningful action to fight food insecurity in our communities. Our new food loss and waste goal furthers both of these objectives and underscores our longstanding commitment to produce wholesome, safe and affordable food in a responsible way.”