SALINAS, Calif. – Ippolito International is excited to announce they are the first grower-shipper in Monterey County to be awarded Gold certification under the TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) certification system for its Value-Added Facility and Brussels Sprouts Packing Facility. Administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), TRUE helps facilities define, pursue and achieve zero waste goals while becoming more resource efficient.
In 2016, Ippolito set an ambitious goal to achieve Zero Waste, which means being able to credibly validate a 90 percent diversion of waste from landfill for 12 consecutive months. This month, both Ippolito’s Value-Added Facility and Brussels Sprouts Packing Facility became the first in Monterey County to achieve TRUE certification. With a combined diversion rate of 93.98 percent, these facilities have recycled 590 tons of cardboard and plastic and diverted over 10,000 tons of organic bi-product through animal feed and composting.
Ippolito's leadership, Partner Ron Mondo and General Manager Butch Corda, launched the Zero Waste initiative with the support of Measure to Improve, sustainable consulting firm, because they recognized the opportunity to improve their environmental impact while being able to cut costs. Going for Gold wasn’t an easy accomplishment, it required a culture change, commitment from leadership and participation from the employees. "We conducted regular tailgate trainings with the message that Zero Waste takes teamwork and is everyone’s responsibility,” said Food Safety Director, Herman Cossio.
Sue Beets-Atkinson, Chair, GBCI TRUE Advisory Council, states, “I was impressed by Ippolito’s dedication to finding alternatives to move away from single-use wax cartons by investing in reusable totes. In the end, it will save money and improve their impact on the environment."
“It feels good to do the right thing. We are incredibly proud of this accomplishment" said Ron Mondo. "I especially want to thank the Measure to Improve team for their expertise and guidance along the way."
About Ippolito International: Ippolito International offers a portfolio of premium organic and conventional produce in value-added and commodity for both foodservice and retail markets. For over 18 years, we have been offering consumers and customers choices from the brand they already know and trust: Queen Victoria.
About Total Resource Use and Efficiency (TRUE): TRUE strives to change the way materials flow through society so that all products are eventually reused and diverted from landfill, incineration (waste-to-energy) and the environment. TRUE-certified projects are environmentally responsible and achieve a minimum of 90 percent waste diversion. The program helps facilities turn waste into savings, cut greenhouse gas emissions, manage risk, reinvest resources and create jobs.
About Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI): The premier organization independently recognizing excellence in green business industry performance and practice globally. Established in 2008, GBCI exclusively administers project certifications and professional credentials and certificates within the framework of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating systems, as well as the Sustainable SITES Initiative (SITES), TRUE Zero Waste Certification, Parksmart, the PEER standard for power systems, the WELL building standard, EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies), Investor Confidence Project (ICP) for energy efficiency retrofits and the GRESB benchmark, which is used by institutional investors to improve the sustainability performance of the global property sector. www.gbci.org.
About Measure to Improve: The mission of Measure to Improve is to help agricultural producers and processors measure, improve, and credibly promote their sustainability efforts. They believe the driving force behind sustainability starts with a good business case. They set out to discover the economic savings that also translate into environmental benefits. They show companies how to stay ahead of mandates and appeal to the growing segment of environmentally conscious buyers. ?
Source: Ippolito International