Kelloggs reports rise in emissions and water use

Major food manufacturer Kelloggs has reported increases in its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, energy usage and water consumption in 2013, largely due to acquiring snack producer Pringles in 2012.


The company reported that its GHG emissions per metric tonne of food produced in 2013 increased for the first time in five years. Emissions rose to 0.48 metric tonnes per metric tonne of food produced, up from the steady 0.45 metric tonnes reported each since 2009.

Energy use increased to 5.75 gigajoules per metric tonne of food produced in 2013, up from 5.28 gigajoules the previous year. Water use also increased in 2013, up from the 5.09 cubic metres for every metric tonne of food produced to 5.23 cubic metres.

The company has attributed the increases to “changes to our product and manufacturing mix” and in particular the inclusion of data from its Pringles plants for the first time, which it acquired in mid-2012.

“We experienced slight upticks in several of [environmental] metrics in 2013, due largely to changes in our product and manufacturing mix, notably the inclusion of our Pringles plants in the data for the first time,” the company said.

The company is aiming to reduce energy use, GHG emissions and water use per metric tonne of food produced by 15-20% from 2005 to 2015.

Although waste sent to landfill in 2013 remained at 0.009 metric tonnes per metric tonne of food produced, it aims to decrease waste sent to landfill per metric tonne of food produced by 20% from 2009 to 2015.

“In an effort to accelerate our progress toward the 2015 goals, each plant has developed an action plan that includes defined responsibilities, completion dates and designated contributions toward the overall targets,” the company added.

Leigh Stringer

Action inspires action. Stay ahead of the curve with sustainability and energy newsletters from edie

Subscribe