PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Rebecca Herman
Office: 703.761.2600
March 24, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kraft Foods Focuses on Sustainability at FPSA Conference
"Sustainability becomes a part of every business decision we make". Hendrik Eyselee, Director, Packaging and Process Technologies, Kraft Foods, underscored the vision of Kraft Foods when it comes to dealing with sustainability in their worldwide operations.
Eyeselee addressed both the Dairy Council and MISA (Meat Industry Council) at the Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA) Conference held March 12-14, 2008 in Bonita Springs, Florida.
Mr. Eyeselee used the Brundtland Commission report definition of sustainability as: "Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". "Sustainability", said Eyeselee, "is the interconnection of environmental responsibility, social responsibility and economic responsibility". The business model of sustainability is to "build sustainability into front end design and drive continuous improvement throughout the supply chain from ‘end to end’.
Mr. Eyeselee introduced the audience to the Kraft Foods Packaging Eco-calculator which requires that all new packaging provides a quantifiable perspective on:
-package weight
-recycle ability/recycled content
-package to product ratio
-renewable materials
-resulting land fill waste
-energy required to produce package
"We will achieve packaging reduction", emphasized Eyeselee, "primarily with light-weighting technologies". The three principal goals being: reduction of layers; more efficient package design; and material optimization.
Sustainability makes good economic sense. From 2001 through 2006, Kraft Foods reduced energy consumption by 22.8%, water consumption by 32.4%, and waste generation by 14%. Kraft Foods efforts have been recognized internationally by awards of excellence and social responsibility. Elyeselee ended his presentation with the following quotation by Charles F. Kettering, "We should all be concerned about the future because we will have to spend the rest of our lives there".
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FPSA is a trade association serving suppliers to the global food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. The Association’s programs and services assist its members in marketing their products and services, and in improving their business practices. Programs and services to achieve these objectives include: PROCESS EXPO, electronic media marketing, education, research, and being the voice of its members in the public arena on issues such as food safety, sanitary design of equipment, and global trade.