TEMPE, Ariz., – May 21st, 2012 – MOM Brands™ today announced its membership in The Sustainability Consortium (TSC), an independent global organization that creates sustainability standards for consumer products. The Consortium is made up of 90 members including retailers, suppliers, non-profits and government agencies.
“As the global population and demands on the world’s food supply continue to grow, every food producer needs to become – and behave – smarter, faster,” said Linda Fisher, director of marketing communications. “MOM Brands is eager to begin our collaboration with TSC members to identify better product and consumption practices that will benefit people, the planet and our company’s bottom line.”
MOM Brands’ TSC membership will be part of the Food, Beverage and Agriculture Sector Working Group, the first sector to form after TSC’s launch
in 2009. Additionally, the membership gives MOM Brands a seat on The Consortium’s Corporate Advisory Council and working group task forces.
“I’m very pleased that MOM Brands is a member of TSC. Within the Food, Beverage, and Agriculture Working Group, we are actively developing content related to the environmental and social hotspots for packaged cereals, as well as the improvement opportunities that address these hotspots,” said Sarah Lewis, sector manager for TSC’s Food, Beverage and Agriculture Sector. “The expertise that MOM brings to the table will be a valuable addition to our group when it comes to our development of a robust and reliable system and tools for informed decision-making throughout the food, beverage, and agricultural supply chain.”
MOM Brands’ sustainability initiatives target four areas: energy, water, waste and packaging. For example, last year the company introduced its Bag the Box™ campaign, which highlights the amount of waste that comes from unnecessary cardboard cereal boxes. More than 90 percent of MOM Brands cereals, including its popular Malt-O- Meal® brand cold cereals, are packaged in bags without an exterior box. This forward thinking packaging solution creates 75 percent less consumer waste than a comparably sized cereal box with an interior bag.
The company’s five manufacturing plants boast green features such as energy-efficient motors, occupancy sensors and ENERGY STAR equipment. The company purchases renewable energy credits to offset the electricity used to make Three Sisters®, Mom’s Best®, Bear River Valley®, Isabel’s Way® and Sally’s® brand cereals. Its War on Water initiative has significantly reduced the water used to make a pound of cereal by eliminating water use where possible and capturing used water for reuse in non- production operations. The company has consistently met its goal to divert 96 to 99 percent of solid waste out of landfills. In 2008, the company created a Sustainability Steering Committee to promote long-range goal setting and metrics, monitor progress and share ideas and concerns across departments. The committee is made up of senior managers from production, operations, engineering, marketing and sales.
About MOM Brands
MOM Brands is the largest family owned cereal company in the U.S. The company has produced quality cereal products since 1919 and manufactures many varieties of oatmeal, family favorite ready-to-eat and all-natural cereals as well as its original, farina-based hot cereal. Today, one in 10 servings of cereal breakfast eaten every day is a MOM Brands cereal. Dedicated to finding better ways to make a better breakfast at a better price, MOM Brands is continually innovating to produce, package and transport its cereals in ways that reduce environmental impact. For more information about MOM Brands and its cereal products please visit www.MOMBrands.com
About The Sustainability Consortium
The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) is an independent organization of diverse global participants that work collaboratively to build a scientific foundation that drives innovation to improve consumer product sustainability. TSC develops transparent methodologies, tools, and strategies to drive a new generation of products and supply networks that address environmental, social, and economic imperatives. The Sustainability Consortium advocates for a credible, scalable, and transparent process and system. The organization boasts over 90 members from all corners of business employing over 57 million people and whose combined revenues total over $1.5 Trillion. Arizona State University and the University of Arkansas jointly administer The Sustainability Consortium, with additional operations at Wageningen University in The Netherlands. Learn more at www.sustainabilityconsortium.org.
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Media Contact:
Elizabeth Kessler, Marketing Coordinator
The Sustainability Consortium
Arizona State University
[email protected] | 480.965.3810