Sustainability
We strive to leave a lasting positive impact.
“IF WE WANT TO HAVE THIS BUSINESS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, SUSTAINABILITY NEEDS TO BE THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE ORGANIZATION.”
—Michele Boney, Director of Sustainability
Rooted in the rich agricultural traditions of Iowa, West Liberty Foods has spent decades growing not just our business but our commitment to improved stewardship and sustainability. We continue to lead in animal health and welfare, food safety, employee well-being, community outreach and environmental impact.
While sustainable practices have always been a part of our company DNA, our journey truly took off in 2012 when we became the first US manufacturer of our size to be verified landfill-free by NSF International Strategic Registrations.
We are honored to have been recognized as a leader for our efforts, including our most recent industry accomplishments:
Silver medal distinction from EcoVadis for a sustainability management system in the top 80th percentile of all participants in 2023
2022 Global Sustainability Award from the Business Intelligence Group
2023 Worker Safety Recognition Award from the Business Intelligence Group
Environment
Conserving the environment and protecting shared resources are part of our everyday best practices at West Liberty Foods. Our locations are ISO 14001 certified, demonstrating our commitment to continuously improve the systems we have in place to safeguard the environment.
PROUD TO BE A LANDFILL-FREE COMPANY
Over 99% of our waste was diverted from landfills in 2022.
%
RECYCLED
%
SENT TO WASTE-TO-ENERGY FACILITIES
%
LANDFILLED
We utilize a sustainability data management system across our business to track and benchmark our progress over time. As part of our plan for long-term improvement, we began reporting greenhouse gas emissions to CDP, the world’s largest dataset of emissions disclosures, in 2020. We also monitor our energy consumption and water withdrawal closely throughout the year, working to increase renewable energy and minimize water intake.
Internal practices matter, and so do the actions of those in our supply chain. We guide ingredient purchasing with a Sustainable Procurement Policy and have executed a Zero Deforestation Policy, to name some of our ongoing initiatives.
39 MM Gallons
We recycled nearly 39 million gallons of water in 2020.
Animal Welfare
Our business relies on healthy, well-cared-for animals, and we prioritize animal health across our entire value chain because it’s the right thing to do. The West Liberty Foods animal welfare program is grounded in the standards set by industry leaders:
- National Turkey Federation’s Guidelines for Animal Care, to enhance food safety and animal well-being
- Certified Responsible Antibiotic Use, the first standard certified by the USDA that allows for minimal use of medically important antibiotics to keep animals healthy
- Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization audits of plants and member farms, with close tracking of welfare indicators
Food Safety
As food safety innovators, we incorporate the most rigorous processes, procedures and standards to ensure the safety of the food we produce, from farm to delivery. We utilize a Clean Room Food Processing System®, salmonella control interventions and high pressure processing systems to improve the safety of our products. You can learn more about these practices here.
People
We take pride in honoring our team members, with a diversity and inclusion policy that creates a culture of support, equity and respect. West Liberty Foods adheres to Social Accountability International’s SA8000 certification, committed to the fair treatment of workers. We also provide mentoring and leadership opportunities, along with cutting-edge tech training to support lifelong learning for our employees.
Our Social Responsibility Policy Statement can be found here.
20,000 Hours
Our team completed over 20,000 hours of training in 2020.
Community
Taking care of the community is an issue close to our hearts. From partnerships with local schools and service organizations to corporate donations and active participation in chambers of commerce, West Liberty Foods strives to make a positive difference in our communities.
HELPING THOSE AT RISK OF FOOD INSECURITY
27,000
Sack Hunger, Iowa State University: 27,000 pounds of food donated
170,000
Feeding Iowans Task Force: committed to delivering 170,000 pounds of product
30,000
Food Bank of Iowa:
30,000 pounds donated annually
4.1 MM
USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program: 4.1 million pounds of meat products to date
Since 2012, we have operated a nonprofit organization called Community Bridge, which provides support to all members of the West Liberty Foods family. We engage in special projects with more than 80 organizations in our local communities. In 2022, Community Bridge donated $8,200 to West Liberty Foods team members and $5,000 to local community events and activities.
PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENT. PROTECTING SHARED RESOURCES. MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT.
At West Liberty Foods, we are proud of the achievements we have reached so far, but our long-term objective is continuous improvement across our operations. We are in the process of setting targets to improve energy usage, greenhouse gas emissions and our water footprint. Our focus on environmental stewardship, animal welfare, employee safety and supply chain management will never waver.
234 MM Pounds
In FY2020, we produced over 234 million pounds of products while maintaining the highest accreditations in food safety, environmental stewardship and waste management.
We encourage you to review our 2021 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report for more details.
Our Environmental Policy Statement can be found here.
