Tyson Foods has announced its goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its global operations and supply chain by 2050, including scopes 1, 2, and 3.
“At Tyson Foods, we believe progress requires accountability and transparency, and we are proud to exemplify that as we work to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050,” says John R. Tyson, chief sustainability officer, Tyson Foods. “As the first U.S.-based protein company in the food and beverage sector to have an emissions reduction target approved by the Science Based Targets initiative, we hope to continue to push the industry as a leader and remain committed to making a positive impact on our planet, with our team members, consumers, and customers, and in the communities we serve.” The move to net zero is an expansion of the company’s current science-based target of achieving a 30% GHG emissions reduction by 2030.
Key areas the company will be prioritizing to meet this goal include updating the baseline for emissions to align with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 ℃, consistent with the Paris Agreement, by the end of 2023; establishing a pathway to using 50% renewable energy across its domestic operations by 2030; completing initial land stewardship target of engaging 2 million feed acres and expanding the total acres by 2025, including a total target of 100% of feed purchased by 2030; expanding the company’s current 5 million acre grazing lands target for sustainable beef production practices by 2025; continuing work to eliminate deforestation risk throughout its global supply chain by 2030; and supporting climate action policies through advocacy groups, such as the Net Zero Business Alliance.
“We believe what good food can do for people and the planet is powerful. Our net zero ambition is another important step in our work toward realizing our aspiration to become the most transparent and sustainable food company in the world,” says Donnie King, Tyson Foods president and CEO. “Partnership and collaboration will be critical to our efforts, and we look forward to working with our customers, supply chain partners, and other stakeholders to achieve net zero.”
 | Leading Food Companies to Receive Sustainability Excellence in Manufacturing Awards at PACK EXPO Las Vegas |
The company’s FY2020 Sustainability Progress Report details how the company is delivering on its sustainability targets across all of its business operations and shares the company’s integrated approach to sustainability.
Key achievements in FY2020 include:
- Setting new contextual water targets that consider local environments and conditions across three priority facilities
- Transitioning virgin fiber paperboard to 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content across the Jimmy Dean brand
- Launching zero waste to landfill pilot projects at three production facilities and diverting nearly 5.2 million lb of waste from landfills
- Becoming the first U.S. food company to announce work to verify sustainable production practices at scale in our beef supply chain
- Developing and publicly releasing a Forest Protection Standard outlining steps to continue minimizing deforestation risk and protect the forests in the 6% of the company’s land footprint that was identified as medium-to-high risk of deforestation
- Becoming the first company to receive third-party certification by the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO) for all poultry audits within its FarmCheck audit program
