Peanut Players PQ
Go All in on Sustainability By: Lauren Highfill Williams You know sustainability is more than a buzzword when businesses from large to small are investing heavily in it — even tying executive pay to results. Prioritizing sustainability is important for businesses because it can add brand value and a competitive advantage, meet consumer demands, increase efficiency, attract talent and create new opportunities, according to Forbes1. Here is a snapshot of how major players in the peanut industry are incorporating sustainability into their activities. J.M. Smucker Co.
Jif is a household name for peanut butter, and J.M. Smucker Co. also makes favorites like Uncrustables, Adam’s and Santa Cruz Organic peanut butter products. According to the Smucker 2021 Corporate Impact Report, the company diverted 96.2% of waste from going to landfills2. Specific to peanut butter, in their Scottsville, Kentucky facility, the peanut butter delivery process moved to reusable plastic totes, resulting in more than 1.1 million fewer pounds going to landfill. “The continued evolution of consumers’ eating preferences has created a tremendous opportunity for our brands,” said Rebecca Ott, director of sustainability at the J.M. Smucker Co. “In today's ever-busy world, consumers are gravitating toward options that offer convenience, low prep and added nutritional benefits; and one solution consumers have always turned to to meet those needs is peanut butter. So, for us as the largest purchaser of peanuts in the U.S., we also recognize the importance of the sustainability impact of the crop. We expect all of our ingredients to be sourced responsibly and also to focus on the environmental and social impacts. So, in that spirit, I'm excited about the peanut industry’s commitment to sustainability. The Sustainable U.S. Peanuts initiative offers a platform that supports transparency. It also leverages reliable aggregated data, while empowering those in the industry to strive for continuous improvement. We support its development not only to reflect the great progress of the industry but as a way to continue the regenerative agriculture journey. Ultimately, we want to demonstrate that sustainability is both value protection and value creation for all stakeholders, and that means a resilient future for the industry.”
Hormel Foods
Parent company of Skippy and Justin’s and new owner of Planters brands, Hormel Foods recognizes the critical role that sustainable agricultural practices play in meeting the world’s food demands while protecting natural resources. In 2020, the company reduced its water use by 119 million gallons, decreased product packaging by 533,000 pounds and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 5,700 metric tons. In 2019, Hormel brand Applegate launched The New Food Collective, which is committed to sourcing from farmers and ranchers who use regenerative agricultural practices that are designed to improve soil, water retention and biodiversity3.
Hershey Company
In addition to the iconic Reese’s, peanuts play a significant role in Hershey Company-owned brands of Mr. Goodbar, Payday and ONE. “Sustainability is definitely increasing in value for a number of our stakeholders, from consumers to retailers, investors, NGOs and even our employees,” said Mark Kline, senior manager of nut and energy sourcing at Hershey.
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