Friday 7 January 2022

Smithfield Foods pledges to halve food loss and waste by 2030

Smithfield Foods has pledged to halve its overall food loss and waste in its US company-owned operations by 2030.

The new commitment supports the company's ongoing efforts to reduce overall waste sent to landfills by 75% and its goal to achieve zero waste to landfill certification at three quarters of its US facilities by 2025.

Smithfield has also joined the 10x20x30 initiative, which brings together the world's largest food retailers and providers to engage at least 20 suppliers to halve food loss and waste by 2030.

It is also a member of the Farm Powered Strategic Alliance, an initiative by Vanguard Renewables, Unilever, Starbucks and Dairy Farmers of America, that aims to avoid or eliminate food waste first and repurpose what cannot be eliminated into renewable energy via farm-based anaerobic digesters.

Last year, it became the first major protein company to make a commitment to become carbon-negative in the US by 2030.

Stewart Leeth, Chief Sustainability Officer for Smithfield Foods said: “For years, Smithfield has spearheaded impactful programmes to proactively minimise 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.”