Smithfield Foods Demonstrates Continued Leadership and Transparency in New Sustainability Report

Smithfield Foods demonstrates continued leadership by presenting clear, data-driven progress in environmental and social metrics. The report highlights improved yields across key production lines and provides a transparent view of progress through baselines, targets, and year-over-year comparisons. The companys leadership team said the figures reflect disciplined execution and ongoing investments in efficiency.

The document shows how to align sustainability goals with supplier expectations, community needs, and regulatory requirements, including a clear path to reduce water use and emissions. It highlights a 6% improvement in yields since 2022 and a 12% reduction in water-use intensity per unit of product, measured quarterly and verified by external auditors.

As part of its initiative to engage the next generation, the report notes support for school programs and partnerships with competitions like ncf-envirothon, fueling practical testing and environmental stewardship. This addition strengthens the pipeline of skilled workers while informing farmers and students about responsible production practices. A wind of momentum surrounds these partnerships, becoming a model for peers.

The narrative also covers incident-based learning and risk management, detailing how the team identifies and addresses incident quickly, with corrective actions tracked in a centralized dashboard. Continuing progress relies on consistent training, rigorous testing protocols, and a committing to openness that invites stakeholder scrutiny.

For readers seeking to replicate Smithfield’s approach, the recommendations stress transparent reporting, independent verification, and a pragmatic roadmap: publish monthly updates, adopt standardized metrics, and committing to continuous improvement across the supply chain, including farm-level data and supplier KPIs. By becoming a model for accountability, the companys example can drive improved performance across the industry.

Smithfield Foods Sustainability Leadership in New Reports

Publish a quarterly public dashboard that highlights four core programs across the national footprint, with data from facilities in the north and utah. This move answers hungry stakeholders seeking transparency and invites partners, customers, and employees to participate and follow the progress, as described in the following sections.

• Manure-to-energy: four facilities converted to energy systems, delivering 4 MW capacity and about 12 million kWh of electricity annually; life-cycle emissions reductions around 60,000 metric tons CO2e; odor control improves nearby community life.
• Sugars and product reformulation: reduce added sugars in select sauces and marinades; tracked in the system with four SKUs updated this year; consumer nutrition labeling improves readability.
• Contributions and community support: donations totaling over $2 million to forestry restoration projects and local charities; these contributions create employment opportunities and uplift life in rural states, including utah and the north.
• Employment and workforce development: more than 1,200 new positions tied to sustainable programs; participation from 300+ suppliers; this part of a broader strategy to strengthen local employment.
• Retail partnerships and supply chain: expand collaboration with national retail partners to widen access to responsibly produced pork; four new sourcing agreements signed in north and utah markets; enhanced traceability and a robust system.
• Transparency and data availability: the reporting framework provides a clear data system that is available to stakeholders; following updates, the national hub remains open to researchers, community groups, and auditors, inspiring continued engagement.

To continue momentum, Smithfield will invest in forestry-focused projects, scale manure-to-energy across additional sites, and strengthen collaborations with partners across states, ensuring ongoing contributions to life quality and national sustainability goals.

Smithfield Foods: Continued Leadership, Transparency, and 20-Year Sustainability Milestones in the Latest Report

Adopt the 20-year milestones as the baseline for annual planning and public disclosures, then translate them into actionable targets across operations. Since the program began, teams in utah and other sites started cross-functional reviews that map each goal to material improvements in energy, water, and animal welfare.

To support transparency, the company ties progress to verifiable data from testing and trusted sources, clearly outlining source data, methodologies, and validation steps. The report highlights renewables adoption, fertilizer reductions, and responsible sourcing across the supply chain, with the northstar fund backing pilots that scale proven outcomes. That time demonstrated how data-driven changes can reduce emissions.

Educational outreach engages communities and partners across the country. jeremy leads stakeholder sessions and a field visit to sites to explain how goals translate into day-to-day practices. Several demonstrations illustrate improvements in animal care, feed efficiency, and on-farm sustainability.

Designed processes link research to action, with forkto steps that move ideas from pilots to full-scale implementation, including field trials. By increasing protein production efficiency and maintaining rigorous testing, Smithfield builds consistency across facilities. These moves rely on data from multiple sources and a steady push to increase renewables use and sustainable inputs. We also track sugars used in feed to optimize energy and nutrient balance.

Country-level momentum remains strong as the company expands educational programs and supplier collaborations. There is growing confidence that these milestones translate into measurable outcomes, reinforcing the path to sustainable value. The ongoing focus on material topics, and continued attention to impacts on animals and the environment, keeps the company accountable to its stakeholders.

Baseline assessment: establishing the starting point for emissions, energy, and water metrics

Begin with a concrete recommendation: establish a 12-month baseline for emissions, energy, and water by collecting data from all company-owned facilities and key supplier sites within 90 days and consolidating it into a single dashboard for the team to track progress. This baseline will show how our system operates across farm operations, processing facilities, and distribution hubs, and it will clearly connect to the goal of a carbon-negative future.

Form a cross-functional baseline team that includes operations, procurement, sustainability, IT, and employment, with representation from farmers where possible. The team designs standardized templates, units, and definitions; implements checks for data quality; and publishes progress through LinkedIn and internal dashboards to connect workers, consumer-facing teams, and housing programs with a transparent story. Ongoing studies from national and regional data help calibrate the approach and create an opportunity to align with consumer expectations and the protein supply chain.

Define boundaries and methodology: set Scope 1-3 boundaries, track energy sources, water withdrawals and wastewater, and include inputs from water treatment (sodium-based chemicals). Use transparent, auditable methods to avoid black-box data; start with facility-level measurements and extend to significant suppliers as data quality improves. The approach continues to evolve with technology and field studies, and it will connect to a national program and to a system-wide improvement toward lower energy intensity and water use while preserving product quality and housing for workers.

Next steps: pilot the baseline collection at 3–5 facilities within 30 days, then expand to the full network within 90 days and publish a clear progress plan. Use the data to engage farmers and suppliers, improve housing and employment programs for workers, and share stories with consumers through the company’s channels. This disciplined start supports a hungry team with a clear goal and a pathway toward a more transparent, technology-enabled food system.

Transparency and verification: disclosure practices, third-party assurance, and scope coverage

Publish a quarterly disclosure summary detailing site-level emissions, energy use, water intensity, waste metrics, and supplier performance, with data collected from sources and progress toward targets, including the origins of raw materials like pork and grain used in products, and highlighting sustainable improvements becoming part of daily operations.

Apply independent third-party assurance on the full scope of disclosure–covering Scope 1-3 emissions, energy and water metrics, and supply-chain indicators–with the assurance opinion aligned to ISAE 3000 or SSAE 18. Coverage should span owned facilities, contract farms, and key logistics partners to reveal the footprint across the chainfrom farm to consumer and establish a solid baseline there.

To ensure transparency, collect data from engineering-grade meters, contract records, farm-level attestations, and supplier data; apply consistent methods to convert them into comparable metrics; present collected data with clear baselines and trend lines so stakeholders can track progress against targets.

Include a product-focused section for pork and other products, showing lifecycle indicators such as greenhouse gas footprint, water use, and energy intensity; report on agricultural practices, housing facilities at processing sites, and emissions from transport to help consumers see how choices affect the planet. This approach supports responsible governance and demonstrates an industry-leading initiative that proud teams can sustain, reflecting there is tangible value for communities and stakeholders.

Additional recommendations below establish closed-loop verification: publish an appendix with methodology notes, calibration records, and a glossary to help consumers understand the data; extend coverage to additional contract growers and suppliers across the chainfrom, and connect disclosures to supplier performance dashboards. By committing to this cadence, the company supports continued work toward a smaller footprint, and becoming a model for industry-leading transparency that benefits the planet and all stakeholders.

20-year leadership milestone: governance, accountability, and lessons learned

Adopt a formal governance charter with quarterly independent audits and public KPI dashboards to reinforce accountability and inform stakeholders. Set a clear target to reduce supplier-related incidents by 20% within two years.

The 20th anniversary of Smithfield’s governance reforms centers on four pillars: accountability, transparency, risk management, and stakeholder collaboration. Led by stewart, the board introduced testing protocols, material risk assessments, and an expanding network of associations, connecting farmers among a broad base of farms, producers, and product standards. The framework includes annual performance reviews, complete compliance checks, and a public highlights report that tracks produced outcomes across companies and regions. Employees play a central role in implementing field-based controls to strengthen food safety and quality.

From this horizon of practice, the team learns to balance speed with diligence, investing in reform where data shows impacts are strongest. We learn from data and keep testing data, audits, and stakeholder feedback at the center of the cycle, and stewart’s team engages associations and farmers to rebuild processes when risk indicators rise. Committed leaders maintain a focus on reducing waste, cutting less paperwork, and increasing trust among suppliers and employees alike.

Lessons learned center on four core findings: governance must be data-driven, listening to farmers matters, and reporting must be complete and timely. The 20-year record shows bold spikes in stewardship and consistency, with research-backed policies that reduce risk and improve product safety. Impacts include higher farmer engagement, more efficient farms, and stronger ties with associations and local partners. The company invested in training for 1,000 employees and supported 2,500 farmers across 40 farms, producing steady yields and reduced recalls. Also, the four updates to policy created a resilient supply chain and a clearer path to continuous improvement.

Next steps include expanding cross-border data sharing, continuing bold investing in research, and tuning governance signals across the value chain. Action items: set a new target for supplier training hours, expand the four governance bodies, connect with farmers, farms, and associations, and publish an annual learning and impacts report to keep stewart and employees aligned. The approach rides the wind of change in governance and relies on regular testing and feedback loops to refine risk controls, reduce waste, and keep a hungry momentum for continuous improvement.

Sponsorships totaling 89,000 to support North America’s largest environmental education program

To maximize impact, allocate $89,000 immediately to a focused set of initiatives that reach farmers and students, with a year-long plan and measurable milestones. The sponsorship targets hands-on environmental education through partnerships with associations and school networks, following a clear framework to track progress and outcomes, which aligns with North America’s largest environmental education program.

Distribute funds across partners in Utah and other regions, prioritizing veteran educators and local associations. Collected feedback from teachers and field mentors will guide program adjustments, and information dashboards will show reach, engagement, and wastewater demonstrations.

Packaging and curriculum development linked to crop and farming practices in food-processing contexts will be produced for classroom and field sessions. Company-owned facilities will host demonstrations, expanding dominion-wide participation and highlighting stewardship across manufacturing operations.

Since the program’s inception, highlights include classroom kits, field days, and teacher workshops, with millions of impressions reaching students and communities.

Final plan also focuses on transparency: publish information on outcomes, partners, and future initiatives, ensuring following steps are clear for farmers and associations.

Decarbonizing swine production: actionable steps, technology adoption, and timelines

Launch a 24-month decarbonization program anchored by baseline studies, on-site solar, and wastewater upgrades across the portfolio to set clear goals and fast-track action.

As Phase 1 (0–12 months), the team will create a field-wide baseline using studies from the portfolio and install data logging across facilities. Management sets concrete goals: reduce carbon emissions per pig by 15% and cut wastewater discharge by 20%. Use digital tools to track electricity use, feed conversion, and waste streams. Additional incentives can accelerate deployment; leverage available programs to fund upgrades and secure millions in incentives, with carolina site experiences guiding the rollout.

As Phase 2 (months 12–24), implement on-site heat recovery, upgraded fans, sensors, and smarter automation in barns to reduce energy use and emissions. Build a refined wastewater system with anaerobic digestion, biogas capture, and nutrient recovery to lower emissions and create renewable energy credits. Expand electricity contracts with renewable suppliers to diversify the portfolio and stabilize costs. Deploy remote monitoring using sensors to track wildlife interactions, manure handling, and odor footprints, enabling quick corrective actions. Engage partners in carolina and broader markets to share field-tested practices and training.

Phase 3 (24–60 months) focuses on scale, governance, and continuous improvement. Management formalizes a decarbonization governance board with cross-functional representation from field teams and partners. Create standard operating procedures for waste handling, water reuse, and energy procurement. Invest in a diversified portfolio of technologies–solar, heat pumps, water treatment, precision feeding, and analytics–to drive action across sites. Use lessons from studies to fine-tune targets and report progress to stakeholders, including wildlife measures and community engagement. We believe forging a winning path toward sustainable outcomes requires responsible work across millions of units produced, and the lessons shared with partners will strengthen the portfolio and drive future action. The carolina facilities serve as a proving ground, with a winning path shared across millions of units produced and the broader supply chain.