Corporate Responsibility Effective environmental conservation requires strong practices in the usage of water, energy, and soil. Only then can we minimize the impact our business has on the environment.

Environmental Management & Sustainability Practices

Among our fundamental beliefs is our commitment to protect the environment we live and work in. We are constantly developing and implementing new systems and procedures that not only keep us in compliance with ever-changing regulations, but also reflect our dedication to preserving a healthy environment.

Recycling

Since recycling is a key component of waste reduction, Seneca is committed to finding ways to process used materials into new products. These programs allow us to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, and decrease air and water pollution. To date we have initiated programs which reuse fruit and vegetable by-products as feed for livestock and nutrients for soil; utilize waste to produce energy for use in the manufacturing process; and reduced the amount of waste delivered to landfills through packaging optimization and in plant recycling programs.

Carbon Footprint

EPA requires reporting for over 25,000 metric ton of emissions of CO2 greenhouse gases (methane, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide). All of Seneca Plants use natural gas (cleanest gas available) and are under this threshold. In the mid 90's, oxidizers were installed in both can manufacturing plants which has allowed Seneca to reduce 1000's of pounds of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's).

As global greenhouse gas emissions continue to raise concern, Seneca's Fleet Operations has taken measures to improve environmental efficiency. The installation of areodynamic fairings on all trailers will allow Fleet to reduce carbon footprint by a projected 8%.

Energy Efficiency

From the farm to the table, energy affects every aspect of the process used to provide quality products to our consumers. We will continue to search for ways to reduce energy through installation of energy efficient equipment, modifications in manufacturing processes, and possible implementation of a Power and Management Solution Energy Analaysis Program. To date, Seneca has completed the following towards this goal:

• Installation of boiler economizers, heat exchangers, blow-down heat exchanges, condensate recovery systems, and reverse osmosis units where feasible to reduce boiler blow down (these units will lower natural gas consumption).
• Variable frequency drives on blowers and pumps are used.
• Energy efficient lighting with occupancy sensors were installed in warehouses.
• Electric fork lifts within warehouses have been purhcased to decrease the usage of propone and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
• Implemented program for peak energy reduction in freezer plants to lessen equipment usage during peak hours.
• Usage of Programmable Logic Controllers to monitor equipment runtime and turn off equipment if no activity due to product variation.
• Elmination of tractors idling during down time due to APU (auxiliary power units) installation.
• Policy put in place at all warehouses for non-idling of tractors when being loaded or unloaded.

Packaging Optimization

Since the path towards sustainability starts with packaging, Seneca realizes the importance of packaging optimization to control the amount and types of resources utilized. Down gauging of steel in cans and ends, thermal oxidation and energy recovery on steel sheet coating, and use of water based compounds for steel coating have been implemented and successful at the plants. Reductions in can end weight have resulted in saving 5 lbs. of steel for every 1,000 of ends produced which further saves on resources and freight costs. Installation of state of the art thermal oxidizers has lowered volatile organic emissions, saved natural gas consumption in Seneca coating operations, and an energy savings of $4.64 per every thousand sheets of steel. Furthermore, Seneca's new drying units in the manufacturing of can ends now allow use of water based (versus solvent based compounds) which result in zero volatile organic emissions.

Water conservation

In order to reduce the usage of water and recycling of waste water for manufacturing and agricultural irrigation, Seneca rewards plants that lower water usage on an annual basis. This program has resulted in a water usage per case decline of 31% over three years and total generated waste water per case decline of 32% over same three years. Installation of a water management system and reverse osmosis units allows Seneca to send unused production water to irrigation and reduce energy costs by increasing the efficiency of steam generation. The company has further installed an anaerobic digester at one plant to treat waste water as well as generate energy from biomass. By-product of anaerobic digestion is methane gas which is then used as fuel in the manufacturing process. This digestor allows us to convert from consuming energy as part of waste water treatment to actual generation of a renewable source of energy.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Seneca uses Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices to minimize the use of pesticides. Agriculture Advisors and Environmental Coordinators are employed at each agricultural location to reduce and track all pesticide applications and ensure consistency throughout Seneca operations. Production fields are mapped, surveyed, and discussed with growers to protect ecologically sensitive areas. Pesticide selection, application, and timing may be altered to ensure protection of ecologically sensitive areas with an appropriate buffer zone. Integrated efforts between Agriculture and Operations personnel, plus growers, further leverage plant optimization that may allow reductions in pesticide use.