Sustainability

Water is essential to food manufacturing — and we treat it as the precious resource it is. Through advanced water recycling systems, closed-loop cooling, and process optimization across our global facilities, we have reduced water consumption by 35% per metric ton of production since our 2015 baseline. Key initiatives include: installation of membrane filtration systems that recycle up to 80% of process water, rainwater harvesting at six facilities, low-flow equipment upgrades, and real-time water monitoring dashboards at every plant. Our target: 50% reduction by 2030.

We are building a circular production model where waste becomes a resource. Eight of our facilities have achieved zero-waste-to-landfill status, with company-wide landfill diversion exceeding 85%. Programs include: comprehensive recycling streams for cardboard, plastics, metals, and pallets; organic waste composting and anaerobic digestion partnerships; ingredient optimization that minimizes production scrap; and a 'reduce-first' packaging design philosophy that eliminates unnecessary materials at the source. Byproduct from coating and seasoning production is repurposed as animal feed where food safety permits.

The integrity of our products begins with the integrity of our supply chain. Our responsible sourcing program encompasses: 100% RSPO Mass Balance certified palm oil across all facilities, with a roadmap to RSPO Segregated by 2028; sustainable vanilla sourcing through partnerships with farming cooperatives in Madagascar; traceable spice supply chains with direct-from-origin relationships that support fair pricing and community development; and supplier diversity targets that expand opportunities for minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses in our procurement spend.

We measure what matters. Newly Weds Foods has implemented comprehensive Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions tracking across all global operations, aligned with the GHG Protocol and CDP reporting standards. Our climate strategy includes: energy efficiency upgrades (LED lighting, high-efficiency motors, heat recovery systems) that have reduced energy intensity by 18% since 2018; on-site solar installations at five facilities generating 4.2 MW of renewable capacity; fleet optimization reducing logistics emissions through route planning and modal shifts to rail; and active participation in customer-sponsored Scope 3 reduction initiatives.

Packaging protects product quality — but it shouldn't burden the planet. Our sustainable packaging strategy follows a reduce-first hierarchy: eliminate unnecessary packaging layers, lightweight materials where function allows, incorporate post-consumer recycled (PCR) content, and ensure end-of-life recyclability. Recent achievements include: transitioning bulk packaging to 30% PCR resin across North American operations, introducing recyclable mono-material pouches for portion-control applications, eliminating PVC from all packaging components, and implementing a pallet reuse program that recovers and refurbishes over 500,000 pallets annually. We partner with customers to co-develop packaging that meets both performance and sustainability goals.

Sustainability extends to the communities where we live and work. Our community engagement programs focus on food security, STEM education, and local economic development. Initiatives include: partnerships with food banks and community kitchens in every city where we operate — donating over 2 million pounds of food annually; the Newly Weds Foods STEM Scholarship program supporting food science and engineering students at 10 partner universities; paid volunteer time for all employees (16 hours per year); and local hiring commitments that prioritize workforce development in the neighborhoods surrounding our facilities. We believe that strong communities create strong companies — and vice versa.