Environment | Pilgrim's Sustainability Report

2021 Key Facts and Figures

10%

decrease in scope 1 & 2 GHG emission intensity from 2019-2021

2%

decrease in energy use intensity from 2019-2021

11%

decrease in absolute scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions from 2019-2021

2%

decrease in fuel use intensity from 2019-2021

>$18.7MM

in GHG emission reduction projects approved

>64

GHG emission reduction projects approved

Aligning to the SDGs

Pilgrim’s is committed to helping society meet the global challenge of feeding a growing population in an environmentally responsible manner by improving the efficiency of our operations and minimizing our environmental footprint.

To continue to reduce our environmental impact and reaffirm our commitment to minimize the resources needed to produce quality protein products, we have set aggressive 2030 goals for our global business as a part of our Sustainable Management System. Performance towards these goals is discussed in the Water and Energy and Emissions sections of this report.

Reaching Net Zero by 2040

Pilgrim’s is the first major global protein company to set a net-zero GHG emissions by 2040 target. 

Our Management Approach

As a food company that relies on natural resources to produce our products, our understanding of and commitment to environmental stewardship is a part of who we are. We promote a model of continuous improvement and recognize that environmental protection and resource conservation provide value and security to current and future generations. Our management approach is focused on operational efficiency, innovation and compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations.

For Pilgrim’s U.S., our internally audited Environmental Management System (EMS) is based on the specifications of ISO 14001, yet tailored to enable our businesses to most effectively achieve our goals of protecting the environment. Pilgrim’s UK is working toward ISO 14001 certification. Pilgrim’s Moy Park operate an Integrated Safety and Environmental Management System (IMS) and Energy Management System (EnMS) which will be externally certified to, or will be in alignment with, ISO 14001, 45001 and 50001 standards.

Our environmental management structures encourage accountability and promote ownership within our environmental and operational teams. Almost every Pilgrim’s facility has a full-time environmental manager or officer who oversees the environmental requirements and performance of the facility and who reports to the facility general manager. In addition, corporate environmental teams oversee the environmental performance of multiple facilities and provide individual facility support by sharing best management practices and offering assistance to address specific issues, should they arise.

At Pilgrim’s, generally the corporate environmental team reports to the head of engineering, who reports to the head of operations, who reports directly to the president of the business unit. For Pilgrim’s Moy Park the corporate environmental team reports to the head of sustainability and risk management who reports to the president of the business unit.

Environmental Policy

Commitment to the Pilgrim’s Environmental Policy is a shared responsibility of all team members. The policy is supported and reinforced by Pilgrim’s executive management, overseen and governed by our environmental teams and implemented across the organization through the direct support of in-plant personnel.

Read Our Environmental Policy

Our 2021 Stories

Learn more about how our facilities and partners are helping us achieve our sustainability goals.

Pilgrim’s UK Wins Net Zero Strategy of the Year Award

Pilgrim's UK

Pilgrim’s UK is bringing home more hardware after winning “Net Zero Strategy of the Year” at the 11th annual BusinessGreen Leaders Awards. Pilgrim’s UK’s 2030 Sustainability Strategy was recognized as the key pillar behind the award. According to the judges’ panel, Pilgrim’s UK “won over the judges thanks to a comprehensive, ambitious, independently validated strategy…

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Pilgrim’s US Implements Its First Solar Energy Project in West Texas

Pilgrim's US

In an effort to use more sustainable electricity through use of solar power, Pilgrim’s partnered with one of the largest energy suppliers in North America to implement our first U.S. solar energy project in Texas. West Texas has some of the greatest solar and wind power potential in the country thanks to the area’s abundant…

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Pilgrim’s US Upgrades Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment Systems to Reduce GHG Emissions

Pilgrim's US

Many of our facilities utilize an anaerobic lagoon as part of their wastewater treatment system. The lagoon removes a significant amount of carbon-based pollutants, but in so doing creates methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas. At all but two facilities, Pilgrim’s US captures the methane and destroys it, nearly eliminating GHG emissions. Since announcing our…

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Pilgrim’s Moy Park Generates Renewable Electricity

Pilgrim's Moy Park

Since 2017, Pilgrim’s Moy Park has worked with anaerobic digester and biogas partners to supply one of the first Renewable Energy Power Stations in the world fueled solely by poultry litter. By combining conventional anaerobic digestion with nitrogen-stripping technology, the plant generates 3 MW of renewable electricity/year from 40,000 tonnes of Moy Park’s locally-sourced manure.…

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