Food producer National Steak and Poultry (NSP) has reduced its fresh water use by 7.5 percent and saved 222,000 kW of electricity in a little over a year, the company says.
NSP said its environmental initiatives, introduced about a year ago, have also helped it recycle 900,000 pounds of corrugated cardboard and reuse 100 ink cartridges. The company said it has saved 40 trees by using less office paper.
NSP said that installing energy-efficient indoor and outdoor lighting has cut down on electricity use. And it has cut its use of new cotton gloves – needed to keep employees’ hands warm on the manufacturing floor – by 45 percent, through a new rewash and sterilization program.
The company says most of its water cannot be reused, but redirection and reuse of fluid from its condensing units has achieved the 7.5 percent water reduction.
“We strongly believe in our efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle all materials we can. We have only been at this for a year and I am very proud of the results so far,” chief executive officer David S. Albright said.
Oklahoma-based NSP produces marinated food products for restaurants, food service and the military under the “Seared and Sealed” and “Steakhouse Certified” brands.
The company's Responsible Stewardship page on its website covers three types of environmental initiatives: reduction, reuse and recycling.
In January 2010, 21 people in 16 states became ill in an E.Coli outbreak traced back to NSP. The company had recalled 248,000 pounds of beef products in December 2009, after the Department of Agriculture determined the meat posed an E. coli risk.
