Energy and Environment from the Americas

April 22, 2010

2009 US Organic Food Sales up 5.1% to $24.8 Billion

U.S. sales of organic products continued to grow during 2009 despite the distressed state of the economy, the Organic Trade Association (OTA) revealed today in releasing findings from its 2010 Organic Industry Survey. In fact, organic product sales in...

April 14, 2010

Frito-Lay lanza en EUA empaques para papas fritas 100% compostables

En la víspera del Mes de la Tierra, la marca de papas fritas SunChips, de Frito-Lay, firma perteneciente a la multinacional PepsiCo, presentó oficialmente al mercado la “primera bolsa de pasabocas cien por ciento compostable”, según la compañía. El la...

April 09, 2010

Frito-Lay Topeka site awarded LEED EB Gold Certification

PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay Topeka, Kansas, facility today became the state’s first manufacturing site, and the nation’s second food manufacturing site, to be awarded LEED® Existing Building (EB) Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC),...

April 08, 2010

Burger King's packaging innovations

While the economic climate could lead companies in the sector to cut back on the development of new packaging ideas, some, as Deanna Dixon Sievers, packaging manager at Burger King reveals to Packaging and Converting Intelligence (PCI), are pressing ah...

April 05, 2010

Snyder's of Hanover announces polylactic acid packaging for its organic product line

Snack manufacturer Snyder's of Hanover announces it will be using a "renewable "packaging solution for its line of organic products. The new package is made from raw materials that are 90 percent plant-based , informed the packaging manu...

April 05, 2010

Conagra Foods sets sustainability goals

ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE: CAG) one of North America's leading food makers, today announced five aggressive sustainability goals to be achieved by 2015. The goals build on the company's sustainability accomplishments, which began in a company-wide fas...

March 21, 2010

Why These Complex Times Demand Simpler Packaging

After the economy came crashing down in late 2008, consumers instinctively gravitated toward things that were more stripped down. The quest for simplicity was even reflected in those consumers’ choices of packaged goods. The cluttered look of the boom ...

March 02, 2010

Keystone Potato Products looking at solar photovoltaic to cut electricity costs

Keith Masser, a seventh generation potato farmer, is no dummy. A graduate of Penn State with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering, Masser always has his eye on the bottom line.

February 08, 2010

McDonald’s officials visit PVMI to talk about new potato varieties for French Fries.

McDonald’s officials are meeting with the Potato Variety Management Institute (PVMI) to talk about potential new varieties of potatoes for French Fries. Jeanne Debons, executive director of the Potato Variety Management Institute (PVMI), is meeting M...

February 03, 2010

SunChips 100% Compostable Chip Bag in March on Canadian store shelves

Today the SunChips(R) brand, Frito Lay Canada's (a division of PepsiCo) popular line of multigrain snacks, is introducing the world's first 100% compostable chip bag. This green innovation, a first-of-its kind initiative, will change the way Canadians ...

January 28, 2010

ADM Releases First Corporate Responsibility Report

Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) has made considerable progress in the areas of supply-chain integrity, environmental stewardship, social investing and safety since the Company convened its Sustainability Steering Committee in 2007. Those a...

McDonald's corporate social responsibility report

January 26, 2010

McDonald's publishes Corporate Social Responsibility Report

McDonald’s Corporation today issued a report outlining its latest global best practices in the areas of sustainable supply chain, nutrition and well-being, environmental responsibility, employment experience, community and corporate governance and ethi...

January 21, 2010

Wada Farms Improves Pallet Quality and Consistency with CHEP

Wada Farms, one of Idaho’s leading potato, onion and sweet potato grower/shippers, today announced the expansion of its relationship with CHEP for pallet pooling services. The company transports Dole and Wada Farms brand potatoes and onions on CHEP pal...

January 20, 2010

New potato varieties require less nitrogen fertilizer

Potato growers can't go to an industry meeting anymore without hearing a talk about sustainability. They're told they need to reduce their carbon footprint and adhere to good agricultural practices. Fast food restaurants are also under pressure to re...

January 19, 2010

Three French Fry manufacturing plants awarded EPA Energy Star

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing the first three frozen fried potato processing plants to earn the Energy Star for superior energy performance. These plants perform in the top 25 percent for energy efficiency nationwide an...

January 05, 2010

Idaho readies for potato conference

The nation's top spud state will play host to its 42nd annual potato conference this month under the theme, "Putting Sustainability into Practice." The Idaho Potato Conference is scheduled for Jan. 20-21 at Idaho State University in Pocatel...

December 14, 2009

2010 University of Idaho Potato Conference addresses Sustainability

“Putting Sustainability into Practice” is the theme of the University of Idaho’s 42nd Annual Potato Conference Jan. 20-21 in Pocatello. Participants will learn how to more efficiently use fertilizers, pesticides, water, fuel and other inputs.John Kee...

December 11, 2009

Frito-Lay factory in Casa Grande First Existing Food Manufacturing Site to Achieve LEED EB Gold Certification

PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay Casa Grande, Ariz., facility today became the nation’s first food manufacturing site to be awarded LEED® Existing Building (EB) Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certi...