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In 2016, there were 44 Best of the Best entries generated across all Hormel Foods business segments.

Through our internal Environmental Sustainability Best of the Best annual competition, we recognize and reward Hormel Foods teams that have identified improvement opportunities and implemented changes.

Internal Recognition

In 2016, there were 44 entries generated across all Hormel Foods business segments. The Austin (Minn.) Plant team was chosen as the 2016 Environmental Sustainability Best of the Best champion for their water reduction project, which documented savings in excess of 164 million gallons. To learn more about this project, please visit the water section of this report. Also see our environmental sustainability policy for more information about the commitment our company has made to environmental sustainability objectives.

External Recognition

In 2016, our continued dedication to reducing our environmental footprint resulted in recognition by a number of independent sources:

  • Sponsor

    North American Meat Institute EMS Implementation Recognition

    The North American Meat Institute recognized 25 Hormel Foods and subsidiary manufacturing plants for implementing an environmental management system (EMS). The plants received Tier 3 recognition, indicating full EMS implementation without third-party certification.

  • Achievement Trophy

    North American Meat Institute Environmental Achievement Award Recognition

    The North American Meat Institute recognized our Beloit (Wis.) Plant. The team was the second-place recipient of the Resource Conservation Achievement Award. More information about this team’s accomplishments can be found here.

  • First Place Award

    Wastewater Operator Of The Year

    Larry Reinke, supervisor of the Jennie-O Turkey Store (Barron, Wis.) wastewater plant, was awarded the Wisconsin Wastewater Operators’ Association Northwest Region Operator of the Year Award.

Employee Engagement In Environmental Initiatives

We are dedicated to fostering an environment at Hormel Foods where employees are engaged in our sustainability initiatives.

GReen Our Way (GROW) is an internal team, started in 2010, that aims to assemble and evaluate sustainability metrics, increase awareness with education and events, and improve sustainability at our Corporate Office campus (Austin, Minn.). In 2016, the team successfully implemented a number of projects, including:

  • Energy Award

    Beat The Peak Week

    The Beat the Peak Week aimed to increase awareness of peak alerts and electrical usage at the corporate campus. The final event during Beat the Peak Week was Lights Out Day on June 5 in which employees were asked to reduce their electrical usage by limiting non-essential lighting and equipment.

  • Lunch and Learn

    Lunch And Learns

    Throughout the year, the team organized and hosted several lunch-and-learn opportunities for employees on environmental topics.

  • Adopt a Highway

    Adopt A Highway

    Twice a year, Hormel Foods employees volunteer to clean a section of the highway in the Austin, Minn., area. During 2016, our plant managers from across the country gathered in Austin and helped with the clean-up effort.

  • Waste

    Recycling Initiatives

    The team held denim and athletic shoe recycling drives for employees. The denim was donated to an organization that recycles denim into insulation, and therefore, keeps textile waste out of landfills and helps with building efforts in communities around the country. The shoes were donated to a company that grinds down worn-out athletic shoes and turns them into surfaces such as running tracks.