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Our Environmental Responsibility
Hormel Foods understands and accepts the responsibility to minimize our impact on the environment. The production and transportation of consumer goods impacts the environment by consuming energy and water and producing air emissions and waste. Our products travel to stores and restaurants in more than 40 countries by rail, truck and ship. Once purchased, the product packaging used to protect our product is disposed of or recycled by consumers. Through this report, we will state what we are doing to mitigate these impacts. Read our environmental policy for more information about the commitment our locations have made toward environmental sustainability objectives.
Topics in this section include:
Establishing a Baseline and Measuring Progress
To consistently measure and report progress toward reducing our environmental impact, we have established a baseline. We continually adjust our baseline as we acquire and divest locations, and we will continue to report energy, solid waste, water and greenhouse gas data for all U.S. manufacturing locations. Throughout the company, dedicated teams are working to identify ways to reduce our environmental impact every day.
To track and monitor our progress toward meeting environmental requirements, we use a web-based Environmental Management System throughout the company to facilitate progress toward meeting environmental requirements. This system includes compliance calendars, policy and procedure information and environmental training materials.
This year we are reporting data that has been normalized by pounds of finished goods shipped from each location. Accounting for variations in size and production at different facilities, we more accurately show our relative performance in a year-over-year comparison.
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Knowledge Sharing and Training
To achieve our environmental goals we continually improve our practices, including enhanced information sharing. Monthly conference calls with plant engineering and environmental staff are used to facilitate communication on environmental compliance and sustainability issues. In addition, we hold a biannual company-wide environmental conference to discuss environmental improvement projects and to encourage knowledge sharing among Hormel Foods plant engineers from around the country. Additionally, we require regular environmental training covering storm water, wastewater and air emission programs, as well as the proper handling and transportation of waste materials.
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Hazardous Waste
Certain of our operations generate very low volumes of regulated hazardous waste. Most of our locations are well within the federal definition of a Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator. Our facilities adhere to strict operational standards that have been designed to assure compliance with all applicable hazardous waste rules. Our operations also generate small quantities of other regulated substances, such as used oil, batteries and lamps. As with the generation of hazardous waste, strict standards are applied to assure compliance with regulatory standards.
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Compliance
Our expectation is to comply with local, state and federal laws at all times. Our overall compliance history has been good. During fiscal year 2009, we received one Notice of Violation (NOV). The NOV was related to wastewater discharge and did not result in monetary penalties. We work cooperatively with regulators to assure resolution of all environmental matters as they arise.
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Key Successes and Recognition
Teams are continuously working with our suppliers and managers throughout the company to raise awareness about sustainability efforts. Through continuous educational efforts using various internal communications media, we inform employees about resource-saving projects and the importance of focusing on conserving resources. Our long-term corporate goals include aggressive sustainability initiatives that tie directly to our continuous-improvement culture.
Sustainability Best of the Best Competition
To encourage innovative solutions at our plants, we expanded our internal Best of the Best competition to include a sustainability category. Plants applying for this award have to demonstrate how their employees are working to achieve goals through special projects that are targeted toward decreasing the plant’s impact on the environment. In 2009, the competition grew with 44 entries. The entries included projects involving water conservation, energy reduction and solid waste minimization.
The program is designed to reward and recognize teams that have identified areas for improvement and implemented changes to make a measurable difference that will reduce the company’s environmental impact and help Hormel Foods achieve its environmental goals.
Diamond Crystal Brands (Savannah, GA) was named the 2009 Best of the Best Environmental Sustainability Champion in part because of its “Green Team’s” efforts. This group sought to raise awareness and build momentum around the plant’s recycling goals as it focused on exceeding the companywide goal of increasing recycling to 50 percent of total waste by 2011. At this location, the team has almost reached this target by creating performance metrics around sustainability, writing a mission statement and developing a recognition program. To-date, they have achieved the following results:
- Landfill tonnage was reduced by 47.3 percent since 2007; and
- Monthly recycle tonnage and recycle percentage more than doubled from the previous year.
In addition to our internal efforts, representatives from Hormel Foods participate in industry sustainability initiatives with the American Meat Institute (AMI), Food Industry Environmental Council, Food Marketing Institute and Grocery Manufacturers Association.
Hormel Foods actively participates in the AMI Environmental Recognition Program. AMI’s environmental awards program recognizes industry excellence in environmental practices for companies dedicated to the development and implementation of Environmental Management Systems. In 2009, the company received awards at 26 meat processing facilities, which represented our largest group of winners yet. Six locations increased their award level from the prior year. The locations receiving this award developed an environmental policy, received commitment from upper management, adopted at least five energy and environmental best management practices, established objectives and targets and continuously reviewed existing programs to ensure compliance with environmental requirements.
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