CHICAGO, May 8, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Conagra Brands,
Inc. (NYSE: CAG) today announced the winners of its annual
Sustainable Development Awards. This year marks the 10th
consecutive year for the program, which recognizes and rewards
employee-led sustainability initiatives that reduce energy usage
and waste, conserve water, promote recycling and foster sustainable
business practices. Over the last decade, innovative projects
submitted for the Sustainable Development Awards have yielded the
following results:
- Conserved 3.3 billion gallons of water
- Decreased Conagra's carbon footprint by 185,300 metric
tons
- Saved over $236
million
- Reduced waste by over 91,650 tons
- Decreased packaging materials by almost 32,000 tons
This year 45 projects provided imaginative approaches to
sustainability while also producing bottom line business results.
Awards were given in five categories: Climate Change & Energy
Efficiency; Water Conservation & Wastewater Management; Waste
Reduction & Recycling; Sustainable Business Innovation; and
overall Award of Excellence. Award-winning facilities will receive
a $5,000 grant from the Conagra
Brands Foundation for sustainability-focused public service
projects in their community.
"Our teams continue to generate innovative methods for saving
energy, water and waste in our operations and we are pleased to
recognize their impact through Conagra's Sustainable Development
Awards," said Sean Connolly,
president and chief executive officer, Conagra Brands. "The
sustainability and efficiency of our business is incredibly
important to our consumers, customers, employees and investors, and
I'm proud of the work we continue to do in this space."
Conagra's 2019 Sustainable Development Award winners
include:
Climate Change & Energy Efficiency: Kent, WA
The Kent facility identified a large opportunity
for energy savings through fixing compressed air leaks. By
purchasing a leak detector and fixing air leaks, the facility is on
track to save 429,000 kWh this year which equates to $30,000 in annual savings.
Sustainable Business Innovation: Council Bluffs, IA
Conagra's R&D
packaging team found that the susceptor patches used in pot pie
packaging to increase the cooking heat were not necessary. They
teamed with the Council Bluffs
facility to develop new packaging without the receptor, making the
package completely recyclable. This change resulted in a reduction
of over one million pounds of packaging with an annual savings of
$3 million.
Waste Reduction & Recycling: Fort Madison, IA
In 2018, the
Fort Madison facility implemented
a waxed cardboard recycling program which helped improve their
overall plant recycling efforts by 59%. With 162 tons of waxed
cardboard being diverted from a landfill, this change is projected
to produce nearly $30,000 in annual
savings.
Water Reduction: Menomonie,
WI
At our Menomonie
facility, milk is brought in to make Swiss Miss hot cocoa. On
average, the facility completes 10 milk truck washes every day.
Previously, the truck-washing system required fresh water for each
wash. After the team's modifications, the facility now employs a
reuse system that is able to recycle water while providing safe and
effective cleaning. This change also requires fewer cleaning
chemicals and conserves 730,000 gallons of water every
year.
Award of Excellence: Russellville,
AR
The Russellville
team worked with maintenance and operations personnel to develop a
routine that eliminated unnecessary water and energy consumption in
areas of the facility that would not be utilized the next day. This
updated routine had a big impact, saving almost 3.5 million gallons
of water and 830,000 kWh of energy each year.
About Conagra Brands
Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG),
headquartered in Chicago, is one
of North America's leading branded
food companies. Guided by an entrepreneurial spirit, Conagra Brands
combines a rich heritage of making great food with a sharpened
focus on innovation. The company's portfolio is evolving to satisfy
people's changing food preferences. Conagra's iconic brands, such
as Birds Eye®, Marie
Callender's®, Banquet®, Healthy
Choice®, Slim Jim®, Reddi-wip®,
and Vlasic®, as well as emerging brands, including
Angie's® BOOMCHICKAPOP®, Duke's®,
Earth Balance®, Gardein®, and
Frontera®, offer choices for every occasion. For more
information, visit www.conagrabrands.com.
For more
information, please contact:
|
MEDIA: Kristine
Mulford
|
312-549-5522
|
Kristine.mulford@conagra.com
|
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SOURCE Conagra Brands, Inc.