April 5/Omaha, Neb./Business Wire -- ConAgra Food, Inc. announced five aggressive sustainability goals to be achieved by 2015. The goals build on the company's sustainability accomplishments, which began in a company-wide fashion in 1992 with the ConAgra Foods Sustainable Development Awards program. This is the first time ConAgra Foods has set company-wide sustainability goals.

ConAgra Foods' Sustainability Goals for 2015 include:
Greenhouse gas emissions: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% per pound of product produced as compared to 2008 emissions.
Water: Reduce water use by 15% per pound of product produced as compared to 2008 water use.
Solid waste: Divert solid waste from landfills by at least 75% as compared to 2011 levels.
Packaging: As compared to 2008, the company will: (a) reduce packaging by 10% per pound of product produced, (b) increase the amount of packaging made of renewable resources from 45% to more than 50%, and (c) increase the use of recycled content in packaging overall by 25%.
Supply chain engagement: Encourage continuous improvement of the supply chain in the areas of energy, water, materials and waste. Work with growers to further enhance sustainable farming practices that optimize yield while improving land stewardship.

"Because our food is part of the lives of millions of consumers each day, ConAgra Foods has a critical responsibility to create positive environmental change. We can do that by making our food -- such as Healthy Choice meals, Orville Redenbacher's popcorn and Hunt's tomatoes -- in the most sustainable and efficient way possible," said Gary Rodkin, ConAgra Foods CEO. "We've set these new transparent sustainability goals to ensure we are a leader in continuously improving the way we make food, and to continue to create more awareness for what others can do to improve as well."

From the April 12, 2010, Prepared Foods E-dition