Maple Leaf planning to reduce environmental footprint 50 per cent by 2025
by Canadian Manufacturing.com Staff
Food processor overhauls sustainability strategy, plans to trim waste
TORONTO—Maple Leaf Foods is looking to institute considerable changes to its environmental impact and treatment of animals over the next 10 years.
The Toronto-based food processing company has launched a new sustainability strategy that aims to refocus the company’s priorities on advancing customer health, becoming a leader in animal care and reduce the company’s environmental footprint by 50 per cent by focusing on emissions and water usage while trimming waste.
“The enormous challenge our world faces is the urgent need to sustainably feed an estimated two billion more people by 2050,” Michael McCain, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Foods, said. “We are setting high standards for ourselves in areas where Maple Leaf can have the greatest impact, including animal care, nutrition, environmental impact and food security. Sustainability is a profound opportunity to create shared value by addressing critical issues that also deliver commercial opportunities.”
“The issues are daunting, but as Canada’s largest protein company, we want to be at the leading edge of change,” he added.
Maple Leaf also intends to focus on the safety of its employees while working with Canadian communities struggling with a lack of food. The company intends to continue its partnership with Unicef and has pledged to donate 1 per cent of pre-tax profits to strategically support food security programs.
