DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. — Sara Lee Corp. released the company's annual sustainability report, titled "Strong, Supportive, Sustainable," available at www.saralee.com. The report details the company's accomplishments toward its ongoing goals in three areas: Wellness and Nutrition, Environment and Social Responsibility.
"This year's report outlines the progress we have made with our sustainability program in fiscal 2010," said Audra Karalius, vice president, sustainability, environment and safety, Sara Lee Corp. "Sustainability is a global effort at Sara Lee, which is why we feature the work of our Brazilian and Australian operations, as well as the far-reaching efforts of our sustainable coffee and tea teams."
Highlights from this year's report include:
Environment
— Sara Lee reduced waste sent to landfills over the last five years by 32 percent by maximizing recyclable waste byproducts.
— The company has reduced its water intake by 22 percent since 2005.
— Sara Lee's coffee factory in Joure, the Netherlands, uses spent coffee grounds and biogas as the main energy sources for the factory's steam boiler. By doing so, the factory saves 40 percent of its natural gas consumption.
Social Responsibility
— Each year, Sara Lee recognizes the volunteer efforts spearheaded by employees throughout the world with the Promoting People's Performance (PPP) Awards. In fiscal 2010, the program received 41 applications from 30 different facilities located in 15 countries, representing almost 2,400 participants who accumulated more than 50,000 volunteer hours.
— Through its partnership with Feeding America, in fiscal 2010, Sara Lee donated 2.7 million servings of protein to the non-profit's food banks.
— For calendar year 2010, Sara Lee will purchase approximately 40,000 metric tons of UTZ CERTIFIED(R) coffee. This represents a 33-percent increase over last year. In addition, 2,000 metric tons of UTZ CERTIFIED(R) tea has already been purchased, which comprises approximately one-third of Sara Lee's total European tea volume.
Wellness and Nutrition
— Sara Lee Soft & Smooth expanded its product line with the addition of Sara Lee Soft & Smooth Plus made with DHA Omega-3. Based on a growing body of scientific evidence, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) Omega-3 helps to support healthy brain development. Sara Lee is proud to be the first to nationally distribute breads of this kind in the United States.
— In 2010, Sara Lee teamed with The Humane Society and committed to replacing more than one million traditional cage-produced eggs each year with the cage-free variety. Transitioning to cage-free eggs underscores the value we place on our supply chain partners to deliver not only high-quality, but also ethically-produced ingredients.
— Sara Lee's North American Retail and Bakery segments committed to reducing salt by 20 percent in key product categories over the next five years.
About Sara Lee Corp.
Each and every day, Sara Lee delights millions of consumers and customers around the world. The company has one of the world's best-loved and leading portfolios with its innovative and trusted food and beverage brands, including Ball Park, Douwe Egberts, Hillshire Farm, Jimmy Dean, Sara Lee and Senseo. Collectively, our brands generate nearly $11 billion in annual net sales. Sara Lee has approximately 33,000 employees in its continuing operations worldwide. Please visit www.saralee.com for the latest news and in-depth information about Sara Lee and its brands.
Source: Sara Lee Corp