Waste
In fiscal 2011, we continued to make progress toward our 2015 goals for solid waste.
Our plants generated 0.0355 tons of waste worldwide per metric ton of finished goods – a 34 percent reduction from our baseline year of fiscal 2005.
We continue to reduce our solid waste stream by improving efficiencies in our manufacturing operations to avoid generating the waste. We also reduce the amount of waste that is sent to landfills by finding ways to recycle it or re-use it.
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It’s estimated that about 30 percent of the food produced every year in the U.S. is wasted. |
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Tackling food waste
Recognizing that between 70 billion and 80 billion pounds of food waste is produced every year in the U.S., General Mills began a food waste collection program in September 2011.
As of the end of December 2011, more than 50,000 pounds of food has been collected from our cafeteria, Betty Crocker Kitchens, culinary kitchen and many other locations throughout our Main Office in Minneapolis.
The food waste is then used as compost, saving it from the landfill, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the process.
The program was expanded to our Bassett Creek office building in December, and we hope to add more locations in the near future.
