The Sustainable Food Policy Alliance advocates for innovative, science-based solutions to take action against the costly impacts of climate change, build more resilient communities, promote renewable energy, and further develop sustainable agriculture systems.
Each Alliance member company has already set ambitious targets to reduce its impact on the planet, including greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, land and water use, packaging design and material use, ingredients sourcing, and more. However, we recognize that there is only so much progress that we can make as individual companies. That is why we are working together and in broader coalitions to advance policies that are beneficial for the environment, while accounting for the specific business imperatives of our supply chains, including farmers, ranchers, and other producers, by:
- Urging U.S. policymakers to ensure that the Farm Bill and other farm policies reflect the pressing need to increase the scale of actions to address water quality and water conservation issues, focus on regenerative agriculture and improving soil health and regenerative agriculture, and expand the deployment of renewable energy, particularly wind and solar. The Farm Bill should leverage all available tools, including research and public-private partnerships such as the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), to make smart investments in conservation and sustainability.
- Exploring the economics of sustainability, including supporting emerging business models that use financial incentives to reduce emissions and transition to low-carbon alternatives, with a particular focus on ways to create value for farmers, ranchers, and others who are implementing leading edge practices to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
- Continuing to use our collective power to advocate on behalf of smart, comprehensive energy and environmental policies at the state, national, and international levels, including the Paris Climate Agreement, the Clean Power Plan, or other commitments that result in change necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with what evidence-based science says is necessary.
- Championing state- and regional-level low carbon policies, including accelerating the growth of renewable energy sources, building land-based solutions, and seeking opportunities for improved public-private coordination, particularly in the states and territories we call home or have an economic footprint.
To this end, we released a set of climate policy principles in April 2019, which we updated in July 2021 to reflect the movement in Washington on this issue. We also recognize the need to listen and learn from other stakeholders on emerging sustainability issues, including:
- Shifting towards a more circular economy, including company-driven commitments and efforts to extend the useful life of products and materials, prevent waste generation, and design packaging materials to be reused, recycled, or composted, with a focus on using less packaging overall and incorporating more recycled materials. In July 2020, we released a set of Packaging and Recycling Policy Priorities that builds on those efforts.
- Committing to addressing deforestation risks in agricultural supply chains. Forest conservation is an essential part of our overall efforts to meet science-based targets and create business pathways to achieve net zero emissions, and we’ve developed a set of Principles on Forest and Natural Ecosystem Conservation to guide our federal engagement on this topic. We believe that a strong legislative approach is necessary to complement voluntary efforts by industry to address deforestation.
- Seeking ways, either through voluntary company-led commitments or via public policy to support healthful diets that also support and contribute to environmental health. We are especially focused on the intersection of climate change, water scarcity, food security, and public health.
Read more about what each member company is doing on the environment:
