Tyson Foods: Sustainability Progress

05-08-2010 | Home | News

Water conservation, renewable fuels production and workplace safety improvements are among the areas highlighted in the newest Tyson Foods, Inc. Sustainability Report, issued this week.

Titled “Rooted in Tradition. Growing Responsibly,” the documentcovers the social, environmental and economic performance of Tyson’s U.S. operations for fiscal 2008 and 2009. The sustainability report, which is the third Tyson has issued since 2006, is only available on-line and can be accessed by Clicking here…

“The business case for sustainable practices is positive, bottom-line impact,” said Donnie Smith, president and CEO of Tyson Foods.© “Improving conditions for our people, planet, and profit makes economic sense.© That bottom line argument is even more important in this tough economy – especially for our Team Members and shareholders.”

“Sustainability at Tyson Foods is about doing the right thing in all aspects of our business,” said Kevin Igli, Tyson’s chief environmental, health and safety officer.© “Along with our ‘Core Values,’ it guides our actions in such important areas as hunger relief, food safety, environmental protection, animal well-being, ethical business practices and the health and safety of our employees.”

The report highlights the progress and successes the company has experienced in key areas of its business.© For example:©

· Tyson’s water conservation efforts since 2004, including plant closures, have led to an almost 14 percent reduction in the number of gallons used per pound of finished product.

· As part of a joint venture between Tyson Foods and Syntroleum, a new plant has been built that will soon start converting inedible fats and greases into renewable fuels.©©

· In workplace safety, Tyson reduced its Total Recordable Incident Rate by more than 19 percent in fiscal 2009, compared to fiscal 2008.

· The company’s support of hunger relief continues.© Since 2000, Tyson has donated more than 75 million pounds of protein to food banks and hunger agencies across the U.S.

The report also outlines Tyson’s latest sustainability goals. They include:

· Reduce water usage by 10 percent over a two-year period as compared to water usage levels at the end of fiscal year 2008.

·© Within the next four years, produce up to 75 million gallons of bio-fuel annually.

·© Donate millions of pounds of protein annually to Feeding America food banks across the country.

·© Support government policies that will encourage the use of non-food sources for renewable energy.

Tyson Foods referenced the sustainability reporting guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) during the development of the company’s new report.© These voluntary guidelines provide a generally accepted framework for the reporting of an organization’s social, environmental and economic performance.© Tyson requested and qualified for GRI Application Level B.© The Application Levels communicate the extent the GRI guidelines have been©used in the sustainability report.