HFI launches sustainability program

Healthy Food Ingredients (HFI) is planting “seeds of sustainability” with the launch of its sustainability program.

Touting “good for business, good for people and good for the land,” HFI’s sustainability program draws on its belief in stewardship to accomplish its vision of nourishing lives with healthy ingredients.

Laura Grinde, HFI’s sustainability coordinator, explains “good for business” includes support of and annual reporting to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). “We are Sedex members and have committed to conducting a SMETA audit in each of our facilities by 2020, with two of our four facilities already having completed the audit,” she said in a press release.

“’Good for people,’ means we are empowering our HFI family members to pursue their passions and commit to their own health and well-being. We are giving back to the communities in which we live and work through volunteerism and charitable giving.” HFI also recently earned an infant-friendly business designation which supports breastfeeding mothers in the workplace.

Grinde adds, “we’ve implemented office and production facility recycling initiatives which have reduced landfill volumes by more than 20% in our first year,” noting what HFI’s considers “good for the land” through its sustainability program.

HFI has been a key player in working with farmers to transition acres to organic certification and was the first ingredient supplier and processor to become Certified Transitional. HFI has contracted more than 7,000 acres over the past four years for transition to organic.

In addition, HFI has been supportive of the regenerative agriculture movement in its commitment to creating synergies between its growers and customers to help promote and achieve the goals their customers are passionate about.

Grinde comments, “we hold a genuine passion to live up to our name, Healthy Food Ingredients, in everything we do. That passion starts with our growers and continues through our HFI family members to our customers. We are continually looking for ways we can expand our sustainability program through partnerships with our employees, growers, suppliers, customers and our communities.”