General Mills will invest more than $100 million in energy efficiency and clean energy across its business – “from farm to fork to landfill,” in the company’s words – during the next ten years.
The goal is to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 28 percent in ten years. Steps will take include investing more than $100 million in energy efficiency and clean energy and partner with suppliers to accelerate adoption of agricultural practices that result in climate-resilient and healthy soil. The company also will reduce consumers’ carbon footprints with appropriate products and packaging and support climate resiliency among the farmers with which it works.
General Mills said that it has reduced its absolute emissions in its operations by 13 percent. The overall goal is to bring emissions in line with scientific consensus by 2050, as outlined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which suggests a 50 percent to 70 percent reduction by that year.
General Mills has a history of supporting energy efficiency. In fiscal 2013, for instance, it reduced energy use at seven Big G cereal locations by 6 percent. This equates to almost 60 million kWh – and a savings of $3.7 million. This was accomplished by energy audits, empowering employees to share best practices, equipment optimization and heating and HVAC system improvements, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.