Emissions and Waste
Goal: GHG emissions – Overall 20% reduction per metric ton of production by 2015. Goal: Solid Waste – 20% reduction per 100 metric tons of production by 2015 through increased recycling and reuse of waste. Progress as of Fiscal 2009: Since 2005, we’ve reduced our GHG emissions by 13.4% per metric ton of production globally and solid waste by 27.4% per 100 metric tons of production globally.
Heinz is determined to achieve significant reductions in the Company’s emissions of GHG, especially carbon dioxide (CO2).
We recognize the potential impact that global climate change could have on Heinz’s operations and the planet. For example, severe weather may affect crops and a lack of available water could impact production of our food products.
Asia/Pacific
Australia
Highlights of our efforts in these areas include:
- Screening and removal of product waste from water for use as soil conditioner and nutrients at a local worm farm
- Recycling systems at the Echuca, Girgarre and Wagga Wagga facilities to reduce the amount of plastics, cardboard and other materials, which would otherwise be sent to landfills
- Using an on-site recycling system with color-coded bins at Northgate to segregate solid wastes
- Recycling food wastes – approximately 10,000 tons of pineapple and tomato waste are being diverted to farms to feed cattle. An additional 3,000 tons of pineapple waste is being composted and other wastes are being used as fertilizer on strawberry farms
China
Returned products and waste residue were sold for animal feed, resulting in less solid waste and reduced GHG emissions. In addition, Heinz China purchased high efficiency fuel for boilers, which saved 10 tons of fuel each month and further reduced GHG emissions.
North America
United States
The Utility Optimization Process, outlined in the Energy section of this report, has reduced GHG emissions and landfill waste at all Heinz facilities. In Fiscal Years 2008 and 2009, the process targeted reductions in electric power, natural gas, water and waste, reduced GHG emissions by approximately 20,000 tons and eliminated 9,500 tons of landfill waste.
United States
Residents can now enjoy a stroll along the waterfront in Holland, Michigan, thanks to Heinz.
Residents of Holland, Michigan, can now enjoy a stroll along the waterfront thanks to pickle brining tanks. When Heinz decided to replace wooden pickle tanks with fiberglass tanks, we donated land and recycled the wood from the pickle tanks to construct a new fence and walkway along Lake Macatawa.
Large plastic barrels that hold production materials can often be found around the Holland, Michigan, plant. When the barrels are no longer needed, employees take them home and recycle them, using them for rainwater collection and as compost tumblers.
A facility-wide recycling program initiated in Muscatine, Iowa, has recycled nearly 500 tons of material that would have otherwise been disposed of in a solid waste landfill. When solid waste is disposed in a landfill, it decomposes and produces methane, which is a GHG.
This amount of waste equates to the CO2-eq of 1,450 tons.
Europe
United Kingdom and Ireland
Select raw material packaging containers are now shredded for use as packing material rather than being sent straight to a landfill. The Dundalk plant has initiated a substantial recycling effort that enables 99% of the cardboard, steel and wood used to be recycled. In addition, 95% of the plastic used at the facility is also recycled.
At our Worcester facility, an on-site team was trained in waste segregation, and new equipment resulted in a 48% reduction in landfill disposal between Fiscal Years 2008 and 2009. This same process was recently shared with our Telford facility, which has similar equipment, and we expect consistent results.
Rest of World
Venezuela
In Venezuela, food waste sludge from the wastewater treatment plant is being used to manufacture organic compost, which is collected by a local fertilizer company. A second sludge filter was installed to increase filtering capacity. Finally, a recycling program for paper/carton, glass, plastic and steel waste was initiated.
South Africa
Waste assessments were conducted at our Atlantis and Wellington facilities, which are now recycling materials including plastic, glass, organic materials and corrugated paper. Even though this process was implemented near the end of Fiscal 2009, more than 50 tons of corrugated waste was recycled in a short period of time. The amount of material recycled equates to 175 tons of carbon. This is equivalent to the carbon absorbed by 3,700 trees grown for 10 years.
