USA - Heinz looks to reuse potato peels as it improve resource use to cut emissions

The H.J. Heinz Company has announced plans to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2015 and has identified a number of ways it intends meet that goal.

The company aims to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent through efficiencies, have 15 percent of its energy come from renewable sources and reduce transportation by 10 percent through improving distribution patterns, using fuller truckloads, more direct routes and sending shipments by rail.

Heinz also aims to reduce packaging by 15 percent, water use by 20 percent and solid waste by 20 percent. In its agricultural operations, it plans a 15 percent reduction in carbon emissions, 15 percent reduction in water and five percent improvement in yields by using hybrid tomato seeds that require less water, fertilizers and pesticides.

Various facilities are developing or have such sustainability programs in place such as its factory in Oregon, USA which is working on a programme to turn potato peels into biofuels as well as treat and reuse 90 percent of the water for potato production.

Another facility in Ohio, USA is working to reduce solid waste by 10 percent whilst the company's Dundalk facility in Ireland, recycles 95 percent of its plastic and 99 percent of its cardboard, wood and steel.

Source:  GreenBiz