Company achieved nearly 18% reduction in greenhouse gas emission intensity since 2015 and approved more than $451 million for investments in sustainability-related projects in 2018

GREELEY, Colo., May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JBS USA, a U.S.-based global food company, today announced the release of its 2018 Sustainability Report and progress toward 2020 sustainability targets. The report is the company’s first interactive, digital report and represents the most comprehensive and transparent view to date of the global company’s sustainability progress in its operations in Australia, Canada, England, France, Mexico, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, New Zealand and the United States.

“At our core, we are a food company with a passion to be a part of the family meal, providing sustainable food solutions to our customers and consumers that they can proudly share and serve,” said Andre Nogueira, President and CEO of JBS USA. “The JBS USA 2018 Sustainability Report details our economic, social and environmental progress and the important role our more than 100,000 team members play in improving the quality of life for millions of families around the world through delicious food.”  

Achievements in 2018 included:

• Team Members: Provided more than 115,000 training hours through the People First Program, a training program for frontline supervisors
• Environment: Achieved a 4 percent reduction in electricity use intensity and a 3 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emission intensity from 2017-2018
• Animal Care: All production facilities participated in third-party animal handling audits, and a
  95 percent to 100 percent score was achieved on external animal welfare audits
• Suppliers: Partnered with more than 25,600 livestock and poultry family farmers and ranchers, providing payments of more than $18 billion in 2017-2018
• Investment: Approved more than $451 million for investments in sustainability-related projects

The 2018 Sustainability Report details JBS USA’s accomplishments, case studies and next steps in key areas including: team members, customers and consumers, environment, animal care, communities and suppliers.  

JBS USA also made significant progress toward 2020 sustainability goals in many areas. There has been a 16 percent reduction in severe incidents year over year, compared to the goal of 10 percent; 10.9 percent reduction in electricity use intensity, compared to the goal of 12 percent; 17.7 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emission intensity, compared to the goal of 20 percent; and 11.9 percent reduction in natural gas use intensity, compared to the goal of 20 percent. The company is also on track to achieve a 90 percent or better score on the JBS USA Animal Health and Welfare Scorecard and on track to achieve 100 percent vendor compliance with its Supplier Code of Business Ethics and Conduct.

“We continued to make great strides in 2018 to unlock the full potential of our company, recording our second best ever financial results, reducing both financial debt and leverage, investing in our facilities and team members at record levels, enhancing governance and compliance, improving worker safety and reducing our environmental footprint,” Nogueira said. “Our progress is evident, but we are committed to partnering with our team members and stakeholders to accelerate our progress and responsibly meet the challenges of the future to benefit the next generation.”

The 2018 JBS USA Sustainability Report is available online at http://sustainability.jbssa.com.

About JBS USA

JBS USA is a leading global provider of diversified, high-quality food products, including a portfolio of well-recognized brands and innovative, value-added premium products. We are a leading processor of beef, pork and prepared foods in the U.S.; a leading processor of beef and prepared foods in Canada; and a leading processor of beef, lamb, pork and prepared foods in Australia. We are also the majority shareholder of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation (Pilgrim’s), with operations in the U.S. and Mexico and the owner of Moy Park, a leading poultry and prepared foods company in the U.K. and Europe.

As a global food company, we process, prepare, package and deliver fresh, further-processed and value-added premium meat and poultry products for sale to customers in approximately 100 countries on six continents.

Media Contact:
Nikki Richardson
JBS USA Corporate Communications
nikki.richardson@jbssa.com   
970.506.8028