CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Each year on November 15, people across the United States take part in America Recycles Day, a day which was created to increase awareness and continue to build a recycling and material recovery culture. To celebrate employees’ commitment to reducing waste and keeping valuable materials out of landfills, Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG) today honors its Zero Waste Champion award winners. Started six years ago, the Zero Waste Champion awards recognize Conagra Brands facilities that have redirected more than 95 percent of materials that would have otherwise been waste to other beneficial uses such as donation, reuse and recycling. This year eight facilities have been awarded and with their efforts, Conagra has achieved an 81 percent landfill diversion rate in the 2016 fiscal year.
“In our sixth year of this program, we continue to see impressive engagement and commitment from our plant employees, who are key to achieving this kind of success,” said Dave Biegger, Executive Vice President & Chief Supply Chain Officer, Conagra Brands. “Our ultimate goal is for all facilities to achieve and maintain this level of performance.”
Conagra Brands’ zero waste strategy focuses on strategically reducing the amount of waste generated in production facilities and avoiding the need to transport valuable materials for discard in landfills. By characterizing materials that don’t make it into finished goods as “by-products” instead of “waste”, we create a culture that allows a shift in thinking away from disposal and towards value creation. Many by-products of food preparation are highly valued as animal feed, source material for recycling, energy recovery or composting, or sometimes even suitable for donation to feed people when safe and properly handled.
Conagra Brands 2016 Zero Waste Champion award winners include: Dresden, Canada; Hamburg, Iowa; Irapuato, Mexico; Lake View, Iowa; Maple Grove, Minn.; Menomonie, Wis.; Oakdale, Calif.; Waterloo, Iowa.
About Conagra Brands
Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG), headquartered in Chicago, is one of North America’s leading branded food companies. Guided by an entrepreneurial spirit, Conagra Brands combines a rich heritage of making great food with a sharpened focus on innovation. The company’s portfolio is evolving to satisfy people’s changing food preferences. Conagra’s iconic brands, such as Marie Callender’s®, Reddi-wip®, Hunt’s®, Healthy Choice®, Slim Jim® and Orville Redenbacher's®, as well as emerging brands, including Alexia®, Blake’s® and Frontera®, offer choices for every occasion. With an ongoing commitment to corporate citizenship, Conagra Brands has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability™ North America Index for six consecutive years. For more information, visit www.conagrabrands.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161115006444/en/
