Optimize the use of food

Using resources responsibly is a fundamental part of our commitment to society and the planet.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that a third of the food produced in the world is lost or wasted. At Sigma we are aware of how important it is to optimize resources and we use the food we produce in the best way possible. In 2020, only a minimal percentage of our production was wasted. This includes both waste produced during the production process in our plants and products that reached its expiration date at the point-of-sale. By 2025, we have established a goal to reduce food waste in our value chain by one third.

We are working on three fronts to reduce food waste in our value chain

Operational excellence

By operating our plants under the highest quality standards, we can increase productivity and minimize food waste in the production process. We constantly develop new projects designed to reduce or eliminate food waste in our operations. Our Process Footprint Policy contributes to monitoring our performance in our plants and assessing the results of our improvement projects. In 2020 we kept implementing initiatives that contribute to reduced food waste, including training, replacing equipment and production processes, and adapting to changes in demand.

In 2020 we kept implementing initiatives that contribute to reduced food waste, including training, replacing equipment and production processes, and adapting to changes in demand.

Using our products in the best way possible

We draft robust operation plans and employ information technologies to adjust production levels to demand projections. Our packaging technologies contribute to protecting food properties, while environmentally friendly.

Over the course of the year, we worked on a pilot program with clients at 50 points of sale, using information technologies to better understand demand patterns and place the right amount of products on the shelves.

Donations

We have an extensive control process in place that enables us to work together with associations and food banks through product donations contributing our share while also avoiding waste. Over the course of the year, we worked on a pilot program with clients at 50 points of sale, using information technologies to better understand demand patterns and place the right amount of products on the shelves.

In 2020, we donated more than 2,500 tons of food to the communities where we operate, equivalent to 21.6 million servings.