Employees

Goal: Increase employee engagement through an awareness and voluntary personal sustainability campaign.

Heinz encourages employees to consider the environment by offering country-specific programs and company-wide initiatives that promote sustainability. 

Each year, employees participate in Heinz’s Performance Management and Development program to establish personal goals and enhance professional development and career planning. One specific element of this process encourages employees to define a compelling, sustainable future that incorporates the Heinz Mission and Values into their job function.

Our business practices also consider the environment. Employee communications are conducted electronically in most cases, and we use internal Web sites to distribute information about employee benefits and to house standard forms.

Recycling and energy awareness are top-of-mind in our offices, where employees are encouraged to recycle paper, drink from reusable mugs and turn off computers, lights and other equipment at the end of each day.

Our environmentally-focused employee activities contribute to raising awareness and inspiring behavior changes that will generate sustainable results in the long-term.

Earth Hour 2008

Earth Hour is a global World Wildlife Fund event that strives to raise awareness of climate change and global warming and promote energy conservation. Heinz encouraged employees worldwide to demonstrate both the Company’s and their personal commitment to reducing environmental impacts and protecting natural resources by observing Earth Hour 2008. In addition to turning off all lights and computers in offices around the globe, employees were encouraged to turn off all of the lights in their homes for 60 minutes beginning at 8 p.m. on March 29.

Earth Day 2009

In honor of Earth Day, all employees around the world were encouraged to develop voluntary personal sustainability goals. "Green" prizes were awarded to employees who submitted the most creative and beneficial earth-friendly changes they could make at work and home. 

Below are some examples of the contest winners’ goals:

  • “I will ride my bicycle to work at least two days a week from April to October.”
  • “I will work to develop sustainable changes to the portfolio of Heinz products.”
  • “I will use natural energy sources to heat my home and irrigate my lawn with waste water.”

Heinz employees in the U.S. received Earth Day email messages, environmental awareness kits and recyclable water cups. The observance also was promoted on television screens throughout Heinz offices.

China

Heinz China promoted earth-friendly office behaviors, including printing fewer documents, turning off lights when leaving offices and conference rooms and turning down the air conditioner.

United Kingdom

UK employees are leading the pack when it comes to environmental awareness and personal sustainability. Employees are encouraged to take personal ownership of their environmental footprint via efforts at offices and factories throughout the region.

Heinz employees are participating in seminars that teach them how to save energy while driving. They also are taking advantage of ride-sharing programs offered by the Company.

Employees at Hayes Park are learning about energy saving efforts. Energy Doctors from the Energy Saving Trust visited the office to share expert advice on saving energy and money in the home. Employees were encouraged to conduct a Home Energy Check, and their results were analyzed by the Energy Doctors. More than 70 employees participated in the event.

Employees are getting involved in the Company’s recycling effort. Personal garbage cans were replaced by a number of strategically placed recycling bins for paper recycling, non-recycling and secure disposal of paper. Employee response was so positive that additional bins for batteries and other recyclables were added. Thermal mugs also were provided to employees to help reduce the use of disposable and non-recyclable cups.

Heinz UK employees learned how they could minimize environmental impact from their own transportation habits. They had the opportunity to drive a simulator to show the energy efficiency of the way they drive and to teach them how to drive safer, cleaner and cheaper. In addition, a Lunch ‘n Learn session taught employees the habits of energy efficient drivers and included tips on how to beat rising fuel prices by driving smarter. Heinz also offers the Liftshare program to employees, which assists them with their daily commute and provides tips to reduce CO2 emissions.