Kraft Cuts 45 Million Lbs of Packaging, 12.5m Travel Miles

by | Apr 12, 2012

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Since 2010 Kraft Foods has cut 45 million pounds of weight from the packaging of its products, according to an update on the company’s progress towards its sustainability goals.

Last year company also increased its amount of “sustainable” agricultural commodities – those with third-party certification or verification – by 36 percent, and eliminated 12.5 million travel miles from its operations, according to the report, titled Creating a more delicious world.

Kraft is targeting an increase in its sustainable sourcing of agricultural commodities of 25 percent, and a reduction of 50 million miles from its transportation network by 2015, measured against a 2010 baseline.

The company has already surpassed its 2015 goal of a 15 percent reduction in its manufacturing waste normalized to production, measured against a 2010 baseline. By the end of 2011, Kraft had cut 18 percent of its manufacturing waste.

Kraft has also made progress on reducing its energy use, CO2 emissions and water use. The company cut its energy use by 3 percent, CO2 emissions by 6 percent, and water use by 3 percent, all normalized to production, over the course of 2011. Like manufacturing waste, Kraft is aiming to cut these metrics by 15 percent against a 2010 baseline (see chart).

According to an environmental survey published in December by Kraft, nearly 60 percent of its carbon footprint comes from farm commodities. The company has found that about 12 percent of its carbon footprint is from transportation and distribution of products from stores to consumers’ homes. About five percent is from consumers, mostly in food preparation.

Agriculture accounts for 80 percent of the company’s land impact and about 70 percent of its water footprint, according to the survey.

Earlier this month Kraft subsidiary Planters unveiled a Sonoco-designed peanut jar that weighs 84 percent less than its predecessor. The new packaging replaces Planters’ 16oz. and 20oz. glass peanut jars. It is made of 100 percent recyclable, BPA-free plastic and requires 25 percent fewer trucks for transportation than the old jars, according to Planters.

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