JessicaHardcastle
ConAgra Foods has conserved 97 million gallons of water, eliminated 58,700 tons of waste and saved more than $70 million as a result of a host of initiatives.
The company announced the winners of its 2015 Sustainable Development Awards, and says in addition to conserving water and cutting waste, the 82 entries received this year collectively:
The 2015 winners are:
Climate Change & Energy Efficiency — ConAgra Foods’ Lamb Weston Facility in Hermiston, Oregon.
- Hermiston improved freezing capability by installing a Velocity Air Stack to better direct airflow in their freeze tunnel.
- The project resulted in the elimination of a 500-horsepower compressor, reducing electricity use by 4.3 percent.
Water Resources: Conservation & Wastewater Management — ConAgra Foods’ Grocery Facility in Helm, California.
- Faced with one of the most severe droughts on record in California, Helm focused its attention on reducing fresh water use during tomato fresh pack.
- By maximizing the use of water reclaimed from tomatoes, the facility reduced fresh water use by over 40 percent, conserving 22 million gallons.
Solid Waste Reduction & Recycling — ConAgra Foods’ Lamb Weston Potato Facility in Twin Falls, Idaho.
- Twin Falls explored opportunities to minimize frozen waste while ensuring the same product quality, testing frozen grader screens with fewer holes in their screening process.
- Installation of screens with 66 percent fewer holes provided the same quality product while eliminating over 1,000 tons of potato waste.
Sustainable Business Innovation — ConAgra Foods’ Lamb Weston Meijer Potato Facility in Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands.
- After a successful pilot test, Bergen op Zoom applied a new technology to fundamentally change how potatoes are preheated in preparation for cutting.
- This technology reduced water use by 18.5 million gallons, increased frozen recovery by 1 percent, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by over 900 metric tons.
Award of Excellence — ConAgra Foods’ Snack Facility in Waterloo, Iowa.
- Waterloo previously landfilled packaged pudding produced during flavor changeovers, sending high-quality pudding to waste.
- This project eliminated over 1,000 tons of packaged food waste by successfully identifying a market for a blended pudding SKU.