Seeding Sustainability at General Mills
Seeding Sustainability at General Mills
When the nation’s sixth-largest food company set an ambitious agenda for operating sustainably, the environmental impact was dramatic and the savings substantial. Here’s a look at the progress General Mills has made—and a preview of what’s ahead.
BY JERRY LYNCH
Whether it’s washing glass jars more efficiently in Hannibal, Mo., recycling paperboard in Albuquerque, N.M., or composting food scraps at the corporate headquarters in Minneapolis, Minn., General Mills’ practices and policies are informed by a broad-based and ongoing commitment to sustainability.
In fact, the company’s commitment to sustainability dates back decades. As early as the 1930s, General Mills was using recycled paperboard packaging, and the Green Giant Brand was using crop rotation practices. This foundation has evolved into integrating environmental sustainability initiatives into other areas of business.
Today, General Mills is working toward its aggressive 2015 sustainability targets through multifaceted environmental efforts, which range from energy meter installations to water use reduction projects, from oat hull energy conversion to packaging improvements.
“The definition of sustainability sets a very clear objective for us,” says Ken Powell, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, General Mills. Sustainability means “meeting the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs,” Powell continues.
“As the world’s sixth-largest food company, we understand that a small action on our part can have a big impact elsewhere. We want that impact to be a positive one. The General Mills environmental mission is to protect and conserve the natural resource base on which its business depends. We build consumer loyalty, societal trust, and shareholder value by integrating sustainability into our strategies, our operations, and our products,” says Powell.
