Smithfield Foods has extended a number of sustainability targets to build on previous objectives set in 2010 in areas such as animal care and environmental impact.
On animal care, Smithfield said 71.4% of company-owned farms housed pregnant sows in group systems at the end of 2014. The US pork processor indicated it intends to complete conversion to group housing systems for pregnant sows on US company-owned farms by the end of 2017. Smithfield also wants to convert to group housing systems for pregnant sows on US contract farms and in joint ventures worldwide by 2022.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
On "environmental stewardship", Smithfield reduced water use by more than 18%, cut normalised solid waste to landfill by nearly 41% and lowered normalised greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 9.6% between 2010 and 2014. Fresh targets would see Smithfield achieve a further 10% reduction in normalised water use and solid waste to landfill by 2020 and 5% reduction in normalised energy use and GHG emissions, from a 2014 baseline.
The company also stressed its safety record. The group had no food safety recalls in 2014 and, on employee safety, Smithfield said it beat the total rate of injuries for all industries (not just the meat industry), with a 5% reduction in 2014 from injury rates in 2013.
"It's always gratifying to meet the targets that were established as part of our journey toward becoming the most responsible company in the food industry," said Dennis Treacy, Smithfield's executive vice president and chief sustainability officer. "It's exciting to consider that each updated or renewed target takes us even further."
Treacy added: "It's been nearly 15 years since we launched our industry-leading sustainability programme. I'm proud to say that sustainability has become a way of life for us, and our successes company-wide demonstrate Smithfield's commitment to producing good food. Responsibly."
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalData
