sustainable initiatives
"Above and Beyond" Innovation.
JBS recognizes the responsibility of each of our operations to conduct business in a sustainable manner.
While environmental laws and regulations address minimum requirements, JBS promotes going "above and beyond"
compliance. We establish tight standards for energy usage and natural resource demand to reduce our GHG emissions and our local impact.
All direct and indirect impacts of operations and capital projects are subjected to constant review and improvement to enhance sustainability. This is a continuous effort, a work in progress,
never completely accomplished. It requires ongoing management and employee commitment and involvement.
JBS seeks to adapt the culture of our company so our employees recognize that not only are they responsible for producing a safe product at a high yield, they are responsible for doing so in a sustainable manner.
Pen Sprinklers
Pen Sprinklers
Pen sprinklers have been strategically located in feed yards with adequate water resources to negate the
impact of dust. Pen sprinklers are a significant investment and demand a considerable amount of water. JBS
Five Rivers Cattle Feeding uses both fresh water and storm water runoff in pen sprinkling systems.
Peer-reviews and third-party research have documented that there is no risk to food safety. Utilizing
storm water runoff for dust control is very beneficial and reduces the demand for surface or underground
water.
Air quality is also maintained by properly managing the feed yard pen surface. Proper drainage ensures the
pen surface will dry and minimizes standing water as soon as possible, after rain or snow. When harvesting
manure, excess manure is removed while leaving the biological layer on the pen surface; this seals the
surface and reduces malodorous emissions.
Air Emissions and Odor Control Systems
At our Louisville, Kentucky pork processing plant, we installed new 40,000 cubic foot per minute (CFM)
pack bed scrubbers to address “high intensity” processes and improve general room air. We then upgraded
to a 75,000 CFM room air scrubber. We installed a softener for the scrubbers to minimize scaling and
required water usage. We covered the grease tank to minimize vapor to room air. We installed two new
shell and tube condensers to more efficiently recover waste energy. Louisville creates over 300,000 gallons
per day of 140 degree water from waste heat. This hot water is then used to effectively clean the plant.
By utilizing this waste heat we reduce our usage of natural resources (i.e., natural gas) and our carbon footprint.
Reduction in Corrugated Packaging
Our Pork plants have tested, and are in the process of switching to, smaller sheets for their combo caps.
This is saving approximately 8,085 pounds per month, or 97,020 pounds per year, in plastic. We were using
a cap that was 176.4 lbs/m and the new sheet is 122.5 lbs/m. The current estimated usage of plastic, per
month, is about 125,000 pounds.
Reduction in Styrofoam
We are shifting as many customers as we can from bulk boxed pork to single pack vacuum packaging, so
that retailers no longer need to repack product in Styrofoam trays. This removes Styrofoam from the
waste stream.
Reduction in Waste Product
Centrifuges
Eight of the beef and pork facilities use centrifuges to capture waste grease from the wastewater flow
stream, then turn it into a salable product. Many of the chicken facilities capture excess material and
produce a salable product, as well. This, in many cases, completely eliminates landfilling and land
application operations, while providing a financial benefit to the company. An additional three facilities
are scheduled for grease recovery system upgrades in early 2011.