One of the pillars of Del Monte Foods’ corporate responsibility philosophy is its commitment to reducing food waste.
The company put that commitment into practice with the announcement that several of its products have been Upcycled Certified by the Upcycled Food Association, the world’s only third-party certification program for upcycled food ingredients and products.
Over the last two years, Del Monte Foods has helped lead the upcycled food movement. In 2021, the company announced the industry’s first canned vegetable products to be Upcycled Certified. In 2022 Del Monte Gut Love and Boost Me Fruit Infusions received their own certifications. According to Feeding America, 119 billion pounds of food are wasted in the United States each year, with devastating consequences for people and the planet. It is also estimated by the Environmental Protection Agency that food loss and waste account for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Del Monte Foods actively seeks ways to redirect surplus product, helping to provide healthy and affordable food while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to the company.
Del Monte has a dedicated task force that reviews food waste streams monthly to find more ways to divert food from landfills through upcycling and food donations.
“In line with our Growers of Good mission, we’re always seeking to innovate our products and processes in ways that better both our people and the planet,” said Greg Longstreet, president and CEO of Del Monte Foods. “Recognizing the global impacts of food waste, we’re in a fortunate position to make a difference and use our scale for good.”
Through Del Monte Foods’ upcycling efforts, the company has:
- Diverted 10 million pounds of peach pieces from landfills through a Feeding America partnership.
- Upcycled approximately 600,000 pounds (270 tons) of surplus green beans, pineapple juice and boba syrup in fiscal 2022.
Del Monte will continue to identify opportunities to expand upcycling across its portfolio of brands, according to the company. For example, it’s currently testing ways to repurpose peach slivers and small grapes into new products.
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Guest Author: Andy Nelson
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