Commercial, Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions, Sourcing Renewables  -  April 18, 2023

General Mills Increases Use of RE to 87%

General Mills sourced 87% of renewable electricity across its global owned operations while 92% of packaging for its North America Retail and North America Foodservice operating segments was recyclable or reusable by weight.

The food company also announced six additional global production facilities achieved zero waste to landfill status, totaling 17 (41%) of General Mills’ owned facilities.

General Mills also adopted regenerative techniques on more than 120,700 new acres of farmland, for a total of 235,700 acres.

Details were provided in its annual Global Responsibility Report, highlighting actions and progress made across three priority areas – Planet, People and Food – during its 2022 fiscal year, June 1, 2021, through May 31, 2022. 

“For more than 150 years, General Mills has been guided by the belief that doing good and good business are not mutually exclusive," said Jeff Harmening, chairman and CEO of General Mills, in a statement. "We’ve proven year-over-year, including throughout an unprecedented global pandemic, that they go hand-in-hand. We are more committed than ever to ensuring the G in General Mills stands for Good, and our focus on people and planet remains central to how we operate.”

General Mills developed a series of strategic Planet commitments, including reducing GHG emissions across its value chain by 30% by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Since the majority of its climate footprint falls outside of its direct operations, the company’s goals reach beyond its own walls, addressing Scopes 1, 2, and 3 emissions.

Since 2020, the company lowered its GHG emissions from its owned operations by 49%, including a 26% reduction in fiscal 2022. With this progress, the company met and exceeded its 2030 Scope 1 and Scope 2 Science Based Target goals.

To advance decarbonization strategies in Scope 3 emissions, General Mills now has a central climate team as well as GHG lever teams. Each of the GHG lever teams is focused on one area of the company's carbon footprint, including dairy, transportation, and supplier engagement.

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