Smithfield Food's Stewart Leeth, vice president of regulatory affairs and chief sustainability officer, released the following statement announcing the company's commitment to reduce GHG emissions 25 percent by 2025.
"At Smithfield Foods, we are committed to continuously evaluating how we can optimize our operations while taking the lead in addressing environmental concerns. I am pleased to announce a new commitment that tackles greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
"Today, we became the first protein company to announce a commitment to reduce GHG emissions throughout our entire supply chain 25 percent by 2025. The total reduction is equivalent to 4 million metric tons or removing 900,000 cars from the road.
"To accomplish this far-reaching goal, Smithfield has partnered with Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), and will implement new projects and practices across its supply chain, on company-owned farms, in facilities and throughout its transportation network. For a visualization of this goal, please click here.
"To achieve this goal, Smithfield will invest in:
- Improving fertilizer efficiency and soil health to reduce nitrous oxide emissions from grain farms through its collaboration with EDF to create grain supply chain sustainability.
- Renewable energy and reuse projects on hog farms that utilize technology such as anaerobic digesters and lagoon covers, which will be installed on 30 percent of company-owned farms.
- Upgrades to refrigeration, boiler and other equipment at processing facilities.
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