Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 5/22/17


Tyson Foods announced it is collaborating with the World Resources Institute to develop science-based greenhouse gas and water conservation targets for its operations and through the company’s supply chain.

In an interview with Meatinginplace, Tyson’s newly appointed Chief Sustainability Officer Justin Whitmore explained that while the company in the past had been recording and tracked progress toward sustainability efforts, now Tyson would be externally setting science-based targets relative to greenhouse gas emissions and water conservation that it will communicate publicly.  
Whitmore said Tyson is taking a “no tradeoffs” approach to sustainability across five key areas:  healthier animals, healthier communities, healthier environment, healthier food and healthier workplace.

??????????????He also said the new approach extends to Tyson’s suppliers.

“We will define sustainability targets that will hit direct and indirect components of our operations, which means growers all the way through our customers. We’ll have to collaborate with each part of the value chain in order to drive the change collectively,” said Whitmore. 

By way of example, he said relative to Tyson’s chicken products, these goals would include looking at growers’ manure management systems, enrichment programs for animals and water reuse system.

“That type of investment on their part is one that we want to collaborate with them on how we think about helping them get to a place where we can achieve the goals at Tyson,” said Whitmore.

Asked if Tyson would be helping finance growers’ with these changes, he said, “As markets and consumers evolve and as the tastes and requirements are needed for our farmers to be successful, for us to be successful, for our customers to be successful, we’re going to have to evolve and help drive that change. So eventually it becomes, how do we take advantage of the new opportunities, rather than how do I absorb all these new costs to do the same old thing. We’ll partner and collaborate with our growers on creating the right financial model, but we are very confident growth will come from this rather than a reduction in our profitability and ability to thrive over the long term.

Asked specifically if Tyson was going to help these growers pay for these changes, Whitmore said, “In some cases, yes.”     
The company also released the following highlights of its progress in its fiscal 2016 Sustainability Report:

Healthier animals
Of the broiler chicks placed by Tyson Foods during fiscal 2016 in its entire supply chain, only 1.6 percent were treated on farms by veterinarians with antibiotics that are also used in human medicine.

Healthier communities
In 2016, Tyson made more than $12.5 million in cash and in-kind donations and provided more than 8.2 million pounds of food for hunger and disaster relief, and it recently gifted $340,000 to One Egg’s mission to create an economically sustainable egg farm in Haiti, providing eggs as a protein source to undernourished children.

Healthier environment
In addition to the partnership with WRI, Tyson Foods has supported efforts by The Nature Conservancy’s Arkansas Chapter including a grant and volunteer support to help the chapter complete a significant stream bank restoration in the Oxbow section of the Kings River, monitor sediment reduction, and survey a tributary and plan its restoration. The support also includes projects on the Elk River and enrolling conservation easements in Arkansas’ Buffalo National River watershed.

Healthier food
More than 280 of Tyson Foods’ products meet specific school nutrition regulations for fat, sodium, and calorie content, while 31 products meet USDA’s “Smart Snacks in Schools” regulations and 122 products carry the Whole Grain Stamp from the Whole Grain Council.

Healthier Workplace
Tyson continues to strive for a goal of zero worker injuries and illnesses. In its fiscal year 2016, the company reduced its overall OSHA Recordable Incident Rate by 19.4 percent, ahead of its year- over-year goal of a 15 percent reduction.
Investments in sustainability are expected to fund themselves through reduced waste and costs.

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