Smithfield Foods Honored for Sustainability, Safety and Workforce Achievements

SMITHFIELD, Va., April 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Multiple Smithfield Foods U.S. facilities and locations earned awards for environmental and safety achievements in the Meat Institute's 2023 awards program.

"It's an honor to be recognized for our achievements and progress across environmental stewardship and workplace safety initiatives," said Stewart Leeth, chief sustainability officer for Smithfield Foods. "Our company culture is founded on the value of continuous improvement, and earning a record-setting number of awards is a testament to our commitment to strive for good in all that we do."

Forty-six Smithfield U.S. locations received an environmental recognition award for their dedication to continuous environmental improvement, as developed and implemented by Environmental Management Systems. Forty-two plants achieved the highest tier possible in the category.

The environmental achievement award is given to companies that have gone beyond environmental compliance by designing and successfully executing innovative plant upgrades or environmental programs. Ten Smithfield facilities were recognized for their work in emissions reduction, energy conservation, packaging and/or food waste reduction, technological innovation and water conservation.  Each facility won first place in all five categories.

Forty-three Smithfield locations earned the Meat Institute's worker safety recognition award, which honors facilities that have achieved a high level of safety performance as part of their continued efforts to reduce occupational injury and illness. This year marks the highest number of Smithfield locations recognized in a single year since the inception of the Meat Institute's worker safety recognition award.

Smithfield also received a certificate of recognition for its development and implementation of its Unity & Action program, a $15 million investment established in 2020 designed to build a diverse and inclusive workplace.

More information about Smithfield's sustainability strategies is available at smithfieldfoods.com/sustainability. The complete list of award winners may be viewed here.

About Smithfield Foods, Inc.
Headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia, since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is a U.S. food company that employs more than 54,000 people in seven countries and partners with thousands of American farmers. As one of the world's leading vertically integrated protein companies, we are dedicated to producing "Good food. Responsibly.^®" to feed a growing world population. We have pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including our industry-leading commitments to become carbon negative in our U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30% across our entire U.S. value chain by 2030. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to food banks, disaster relief efforts and community outreach programs in all 50 U.S. states. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield^®, Eckrich^®, Gwaltney^® and Nathan's Famous^®, among many others. For more information, visit  www.smithfieldfoods.com and connect with us on Facebook, X, formerly known as Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Threads. 

SOURCE Smithfield Foods, Inc.