Newsweek’s Green Rankings recognizes The Hershey Co. for its environmental commitment.
The Hershey Co. made the No. 6 slot on Newsweek‘s recently released 2015 Green Rankings list of the top 500 U.S. companies when it comes to environmental stewardship.
Hershey moved up a whopping 40 spots on the list compared to its 2014 ranking.
“Hershey’s commitment to operating sustainably dates back to the early days of the company when our founder, Milton Hershey, first used steam power in the original factory long before the idea of alternative energy became popular,” said Leigh Horner, vice president, corporate communications and corporate social responsibility. “Today, more than a century later, our employees live this legacy of caring for the environment, even as we grow into a global company with operations around the world.”
Hershey continues to increase its transparency and disclosure of environmental impacts. Over the last several years, the company has reported key environmental sustainability achievements:
• Reduced waste by 40% and reduced packaging waste by a cumulative 16 million pounds through various company-wide initiatives.
• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions in U.S. distribution and logistics by 27%.
• Introduced Hershey’s Miniatures packaging redesign that reduced waste while maintaining packaging quality and food safety.
• Achieved zero-waste-to-landfill status at its El Salto, Mexico facility, one of 11 Hershey facilities to achieve this milestone, with 60% of its global production occurring at ZWL facilities.
• Reduced company-wide water consumption by 70%.