Conversation on CSR

The Newsletter of American Licorice’s Corporate Social Responsibility Program

Positively Influencing our Impact on Society

Laurel Weiland/Editor, February 2012, Volume III

Did you know that…

27% of food is wasted in the U.S (1)?  A federal study in 1996 found that about 1 pound of food is wasted per day for every adult and child in the nation–122 pounds of food thrown out each month in homes, grocery stores, and restaurants.  Of that amount, fresh fruit and vegetables represent the largest share (24 pounds per month), followed by fluid milk (22 pounds), and grains (18.5 pounds).

Speaking of waste, did you know that you can save an average of $1.37 per day or $27.00 per month by eliminating disposables from your lunches (2)?  Simply replace sandwich bags, lunch bags, disposable napkins, and disposable silverware with the reusable kind.

Community

2,080 in 2012:   Our goal for company-paid volunteering hours we will contribute to the community over the next year, the equivalent hours of one full-time employee.  To support this goal, we’re holding meetings in each location to provide information on opportunities in each community, organizing events in offices each month and communicating them through the newsletter, the Volunteer Vine, organizing service trips, and supporting associate volunteering efforts with charitable contributions.  Read all about our community engagement benefits here.

Laurel assesses waste in Bend, Oregon

Environment

Zero Waste to Landfill

We measured 92% waste redirection from landfill in Union City, California, over 12 months in 2011 (and won the WRAP award for the 10th year in a row).  In La Porte, Indiana, we measured 86% redirection from landfill in the calendar year 2011.  We improved to 93% in the month of November, after identifying additional opportunities for recycling after a waste audit.  We conducted a waste assessment in Bend, Oregon in January and will be looking at composting and opportunities for reduction and recycling in the office.  Associates who submit ideas to reduce waste are eligible to win tickets to the movies!

American Licorice scored above average in reporting to the Carbon Disclosure Project, and we hope to improve our score in 2012 as we work on collecting and reporting scope three emissions from transportation.  American Licorice set an initial carbon emissions reduction goal, in scope one and scope two, of a 10% reduction per ton produced by 2015 from the baseline year of 2010.  We recently installed high efficiency lighting in our LaPorte, Indiana facility, which will have a significant impact on reduced emissions as well as substantial cost savings in electricity.  You can see our latest carbon emissions report here.

Sustainable Business Practices

We’re in the process of conducting training on sustainability across the organization, with basic information on issues in carbon emissions, waste, and water shortages as well as an overview of the four principles of sustainability from the Natural Step.  After participating in training, each team is asked to set a goal to help American Licorice become more sustainable, called the Sustainability Challenge.  So far, we’ve eliminated bottled water from the plant offices, are switching to filtered tap water in Bend, Oregon, and we’re working on setting all copiers to two-sided printing.

Source:  (1) United States Department of Agriculture;  Census Bureau; (2) Wastefreelunches.org