Sustainable Markets: Case Study Of Heinz

Abstract

“The traditional definition of sustainability calls for policies and strategies that meet society’s present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”¹ Sustainability is a concern in private and public sectors all over the world; it is an issue that resonates with people in all age ranges, income levels, and geographic locations. The main idea of sustainability is “reduce, reuse, and recycle.” People and organizations alike must consider every possible effect from the decisions they make in regards to the environment.

Sustainability is a challenge in each and every industry, but with the consistent consumption of numerous resources, it is also a necessity. The food industry, like many others, has begun a transformation of its production processes. Drastic changes are being made in the areas of energy consumption, packaging, emissions, and waste. In the United States, between the years 2005 and 2010, “more than 1.5 billion pounds of packaging was diverted from landfills.” The goal is increase that number by another 2.5 billion pounds in the next ten years. As of now, the food and beverage industry “is on track to reduce packaging weight by 19 percent, or 2.5 billion pounds, by 2020. That’s the energy-saving equivalent of removing 363,000 homes or 815,000 gas-guzzlers.”² (Cacciola, 2011)

As to be expected, Heinz is at the front of the line when it comes to sustainability and originality. The company’s sustainable goals are right in line with the industry and the U.S. Government. Three of the sustainable goals Heinz lists are: (1) reducing GHG emissions by twenty percent of the next ten years, (2) reduce energy consumption by 20%, and (3) reduce packaging by 15%.³ (The Seed of Heinz's Success, 2011)