How does your company define "sustainability" and what steps are you taking to move toward sustainability in your operations?

Dairy Foods,  May, 2008  

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David Darr

Vice President

Sustainability and Public Affairs

Dairy Farmers of America Inc.

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As a cooperative that is owned by thousands of dairy farm families, and that is actively involved in many aspects of dairy manufacturing, DFA is approaching the mindset of sustainability through wide-ranging strategies across our business. At the membership level, we have initiated an introductory quality-assurance program with our members to heighten awareness in the areas of animal well-being, environmental stewardship and employee training. In addition, we are looking at new types of services that we can offer our members. Dairy-based renewable energy is one type of service that we are exploring in depth.

At the plant level, we are working with our plants to better understand current practices to conserve energy, reduce packaging and recycle inputs. We will then be able to share best practices across the organization and set goals for conservation efforts. These are examples of initiatives we are taking to balance economic, environmental and social concerns at DFA.

Brian DeFelice

Vice President, Sales and Marketing

Smith Dairy Products Co.

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At Smith Dairy, our objective is to provide our diverse customer base with the highest quality product and service. Developing and supporting sustainability initiatives is an important part of achieving that goal.

One of our initiatives is to minimize material waste while maximizing efficiencies throughout the plant and distribution cycle, especially as related to energy. For example, we've reduced our delivery fleet's fuel consumption by closely monitoring "idle" time at stops, and we've improved mileage through rigorous preventive maintenance and tire rotation programs.

Packaging is another area critical to our sustainability initiatives. Whether it's reducing and reusing packaging or using materials made from renewable resources, evaluation of the life cycle of packaging materials has become part of the product design process.

For us, recycling isn't just a product packaging feature, either. We recycle scrap material like corrugated boxes, plastic bags and paper throughout all plant and office locations, placing emphasis on personal responsibility for working toward sustainability.

Finally, we think globally in our sustainability initiatives, but we act locally, too, as we support area dairy farms, suppliers and customers whenever possible.

Tim Kahn

President and CEO

Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream

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At Dreyer's, and our parent company, Nestle, we believe that business success requires creating value for both shareholders and society. Ensuring the sustainable use of resources by conserving, promoting sustainable practices, managing waste and eliminating pollution is a critical way Dreyer's seeks to create value.

We're actively working to reduce our impact on the environment with a focus on water and energy use, sustainable packaging, waste reduction, recycling and sustainable agriculture. This year, Dreyer's is committed to reducing our energy consumption by 3 percent. We're equally committed to efficient water use and are relying on rigorous production practices to drive our water consumption down by 5 percent. In addition, we're seeking external certifications for all our manufacturing plants in line with ISO 14001, the internationally recognized environmental management standard. Meeting these goals requires an informed and trained work force, armed with the appropriate technical knowledge. So, in addition to making technical improvements, we're increasing training as well.

Another sustainability initiative of which we are very proud is the "Haagen-Dazs Loves Honey Bees" campaign launched by our Haagen-Dazs brand. Over the last few years, honeybees, essential to the pollination of fruits, berries and nuts, and one-third of all the natural foods we eat, have been dying at an alarming rate. As an all-natural brand, Haagen-Dazs depends on honeybees to pollinate ingredients used in more than 40 percent of our ice cream, sorbet and frozen yogurt flavors. Our Web site, helpthehoneybees.com, details the donations we're making to fund honey bee research, how we're using our flavors to increase awareness, and other initiatives we've launched to educate people on this alarming issue and empower them with simple ways to help.

These are just some of the ways we're creating more value for our communities and our country. Sustainable use of our natural resources is a responsibility we all share, and we all benefit from.

Mike Suever

Senior Vice President

R&D, Engineering and Milk Procurement

HP Hood

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There are many different, overlapping aspects to environmental sustainability. At Hood, we recognize the impact that our activities have on our natural resources and the environment, and we know that there are areas in which Hood can make a positive impact, primarily energy conservation and a reduction in waste.