Providing good food responsibly means going above and beyond to be good stewards of the environment. Our commitment to environmental leadership is reflected in our ISO 14001 certification, the gold standard for environmental management, as well as in these other areas:
Environmental Recognition
We're honored to be recognized for the environmental efforts we've made over the years. While we strongly believe that we have made, and will continue to make, great progress, you don't just have to take our word for it. Each award or honor provides tangible proof.
AMI Environmental Recognition Awards
The American Meat Institute has recognized 54 Smithfield Foods facilities in 23 states for significant environmental stewardship efforts in their local communities. Each of the 54 facilities earned AMI's Environmental Recognition Award, which singles out companies that assess their own environmental challenges and develop unique solutions that encourage continuous improvement. Smithfield Foods earns high honors from AMI annually.
View the press release to see which 54 facilities were awarded this honor.
Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards
Smithfield Foods, Inc., Smithfield Packing South and Smithfield Transportation earned honors from the state of Virginia's Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards for Business and Industry for their environmental stewardship achievements. Corporate headquarters received a gold award; Smithfield Transportation, a silver award, and Smithfield Packing South, a bronze award.
FORTUNE Magazine's Most Admired Companies
Smithfield Foods has been named to FORTUNE magazine's prestigious annual list of America's Most Admired Companies six consecutive years, ranking fourth among all U.S. food production companies in 2007. Companies are rated on eight criteria, from investment value to social responsibility. FORTUNE describes its annual list of America's Most Admired Companies as a "definitive report card" on corporate reputations.
FTSE4Good's Ranking of Socially Responsible Companies
The FTSE Group, an award-winning global index company, has named Smithfield Foods to its prestigious FTSE4Good Global Index Series for companies demonstrating globally recognized corporate responsibility standards. In order to qualify for the FTSE4Good Index, eligible companies must meet criteria requirements in five areas: working toward environmental sustainability; developing positive relationships with stakeholders; upholding and supporting universal human rights; ensuring good supply chain labor standards; and countering bribery.
Internal President's Awards
Smithfield Foods' internal awards programs recognize and reward innovative technologies, processes and ideas that reduce costs and enhance environmental quality. Four recent President's Awards include:
- Sun Land Beef Company, Tolleson, Arizona - Conservation initiatives resulted in savings of 125 gallons of water per animal harvested and 54 percent reduction in wastewater chemical usage, among other accomplishments.
- Murphy-Brown - Shifting the manner in which piglets are kept warm from heat lamps to heat pads, an initiative which resulted in a $1 million savings per year in electricity costs.
- Smithfield Packing Facility, Tar Heel, North Carolina - The facility established a full-scale recycling program, boosting the total of available goods and increasing prices the recycler offers for them.
- Farmland Foods, Denison, Iowa - Through conservation efforts the facility increased overall production by 14 percent, but increased natural gas usage by only 4 percent and electrical usage by only 9 percent. In addition, recycling was increased to include an extra 458 tons of cardboard. Because of these efforts the facility received the 2006 Iowa Governor's Award for Sustainability.