Published: July 29, 2010
Del Monte Foods Formalizes Environmental Sustainability Goals
SAN FRANCISCO - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Recognizing the importance of protecting the environment, and as part of
its ongoing commitment to support the communities in which it operates,
Del Monte Foods (NYSE:DLM) today announced formalized environmental
sustainability goals.
"Del Monte's commitment to the environment and the communities in which
we operate reflects our rich tradition," said Richard G. Wolford, Del
Monte's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "For more than 100 years,
Del Monte has been part of the fabric of American life. From our
agricultural roots to bringing good food to family tables across the
country, our commitment to environmental sustainability literally
extends from the fields where our nutritious fruits and vegetables are
grown, to the grocery shelf."
Continued Mr. Wolford, "We are proud of our heritage and pleased with
the progress we have made in reducing our environmental impact. We plan
to do more, and our recent efforts reflect our heightened focus on three
specific areas in which we can have significant influence - reducing
waste, lowering water consumption, and improving air quality. This work
will play a part in protecting the environment for future generations to
come."
Del Monte, with its deep agricultural heritage and direct connection to
the earth's resources, has historically been focused, with its growers,
on sustaining the environment. Over the years, the Company has
demonstrated environmental leadership and concern for the communities in
which it operates. These efforts include introducing agricultural
practices that help farmers grow stronger, more productive crops using
less acreage, and with less fertilizer, water and other materials.
Today, this focus extends to the Company's manufacturing facilities to
reduce its environmental impact from its cannery operations, and to its
supply chain to reduce its impact from the sourcing and distribution of
goods. At the same time, Del Monte has found that sound environmental
practices coincide with improved business efficiencies.
In order to move Del Monte's long-standing focus on environmental
stewardship to a higher level, a cross-functional leadership team has
led the effort to deepen the Company's commitment to sustainability by
formalizing environmental goals under three key areas - waste,
greenhouse gas emissions and water. While the Company has been working
against these objectives since 2007 and has made significant progress,
this sharpened focus on these areas will further reduce the impact of
Del Monte's operations and contribute to healthier environments in
communities where the Company operates. Del Monte has committed to
achieve or exceed these goals by the year 2016, using 2007 as a
baseline. The Company also plans to continually expand its environmental
program and measure its progress in a more meaningful way.
Del Monte Pledges to Reduce Waste
In order to reduce the amount of waste the Company sends to landfills
and help decrease the need for new ones, Del Monte has worked to lower
solid waste (per ton of finished product) going to landfill from its
operations, and has committed to a 75 percent reduction.
Del Monte has been working toward this goal since 2007, and during that
period has made significant progress. Two of Del Monte's locations have
become zero-landfill facilities, meaning that 100% of their waste has
been diverted from landfill. Both the Milk-Bone
plant in Buffalo, New York, and the Del Monte Foods Distribution Center
in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania are now zero-landfill facilities. As a
result of these and other efforts, Del Monte has reduced its waste to
landfill by almost 70 percent, and is well on its way to achieving its
goal.
Separately, Del Monte commits to reducing its packaging materials by 15
percent, which will not only help reduce the amount of waste our
consumers send to landfill, but also decrease the natural resources used
across the entire supply chain to produce packaging. To date, the
Company has implemented several packaging initiatives to drive progress
against this goal.
Del Monte Pledges to Reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
Given the importance its production facilities and distribution network
play in its operations, Del Monte has a great opportunity to improve air
quality in the communities in which it operates.
To drive this work, Del Monte has committed to two goals. The first goal
is a 10 percent reduction in GHG emissions per ton of finished product
from the Company's manufacturing, warehousing and research & development
facilities. The second goal is a 7 percent reduction in total GHG
emissions through improved efficiency in Del Monte's transportation
network.
Del Monte is pleased with its positive progress against each of these
goals. The Company has reduced its GHG emissions per ton of finished
product by approximately 2.5 percent. A primary contribution to this is
the 1.9 megawatt solar panel system Del Monte installed at its Hanford
and Kingsburg, CA processing plants in late 2008. Del Monte has also
reduced its transportation miles by approximately 29 million since 2007,
which represents an approximate 6 percent reduction in GHG emissions
through improved efficiency of the Company's transportation network.
To further support its GHG emission reduction goals, Del Monte recently
joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Leaders
program, an industry-government partnership that works with companies to
develop comprehensive climate change strategies. The Company will be
working with the EPA on a climate change strategy that will further
reduce its GHG emissions.
Del Monte Pledges to Reduce Water Usage
Given the importance of water in Del Monte's production facilities and
driven by a desire to minimize water resources used by the Company, Del
Monte is working to find innovative ways to significantly reduce its
water consumption.
Del Monte has committed to a 20 percent reduction in fresh water usage
per ton of finished product. Since 2007, the Company has reduced fresh
water consumption by approximately 9 percent and is on track to meet its
2016 goal.
Del Monte is pleased with its progress to-date on all of its goals, and
is committed to continuing to seek new ways to meet or exceed them.
The Company has published its environmental goals on its corporate
responsibility website, www.delmonte.com/cr,
and commits to updating its progress against them on an annual basis.
Del Monte's corporate responsibility site has been recently updated to
include not only important detail regarding the Company's environmental
goals, but also information on such issues as employee benefits and
community efforts.
About Del Monte Foods
Del Monte Foods is one of the country's largest and most well-known
producers, distributors and marketers of premium quality, branded pet
products and food products for the U.S. retail market, generating
approximately $3.7 billion in net sales in fiscal 2010. With a powerful
portfolio of brands, Del Monte products are found in eight out of ten
U.S. households. Pet food and pet snacks brands include Meow Mix,
Kibbles 'n Bits, Milk-Bone®,
9Lives, Pup-Peroni®,
Gravy Train, Nature's Recipe®,
Canine Carry-Outs and other brand names. Food
product brands include Del Monte, Contadina®,
S&W, College Inn® and
other brand names. The Company also produces and distributes private
label pet products and food products. For more information on Del Monte
Foods Company (NYSE: DLM) visit the Company's website at www.delmonte.com.
Del Monte. Nourishing Families. Enriching Lives. Every Day.TM
Del Monte Foods
Serena Li, 415-247-3403
serena.li@delmonte.com
Chrissy
Stengel, 415-247-3268
Chrissy.stengel@delmonte.com
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