Actually, depending on your perspective, TWO huge announcements.
Canada-headquartered McCain Foods just released its 2020 Global Sustainability Summary Report, making some major, commendable commitments that should have some impact in NZ and here in the region.
The company announced that its emission reduction plan and targets have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative, aligning them with the goals of the Paris Agreement to keep global warming to 1.5°C.
Max Koeune, President and CEO, McCain emphasised: “When we say we are reducing our carbon emissions by 50 per cent, that is actual decarbonization across our operations. Carbon offsets cannot be used with the Science Based Targets initiative. This is a robust, substantial commitment to move towards carbon neutrality.”
The company is implementing regenerative agricultural practices across 100% of its potato acreage, which it says will help cut its emissions related to farming by 25%. BayBuzz will be checking into the local implementation of that.
A solar farm and biogas digester McCain is building at its production facility in Ballarat, Australia, fully operational next year, is projected to yield a 39% reduction in energy from the grid, and reduce carbon emissions by 27,000 tonnes a year.
Other carbon-reduction initiatives planned include:
- Moving to 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2030.
- Building renewable generation capacity at its processing plants.
- Phasing out use of coal in all operations, including China, where the recent phase out reduces McCain’s annual carbon emission by 21,000 tonnes annually.
- Further reducing reliance on fossil fuels through electrification and alternative fuels.
- Ensuring 100 per cent of packaging will be recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.
McCain also says it is “Continuing to drive energy efficiency improvements across its global facilities”. BayBuzz hopes that includes here in Hastings (and at their Timaru plant) … we aim to find out. Stay tuned.
Oh, and the other announcement …
After twelve years’ absence, McCain is bringing back its “much-loved” snack – SMILES!
McCain Foods Marketing Manager for Potato, Nicole Doolette says “The public asked, we listened and McCain is proud to announce the iconic fun and crunchy return of SMILES.”
McCains is a horrible company. Trying to gross over all the problems they have caused farmers in other countries by screwing them over production or introducing virus infected seed spuds into otherwise viral free soils. I don buy any of their products as a result of what I know about this company.