It’s my pleasure to share with you our 2021 Pilgrim’s Sustainability Report. As we continue to serve as a leading global producer of high-quality poultry, pork, retail-ready, and prepared foods products for our customers, we’re also making significant strides as a leading corporate citizen.
To that end, we continued to help grow the communities where our team members live and work, investing over $15 million in more than 100 infrastructure and social services projects. From recreation centers to mobile STEM buses, high school research facilities to soccer fields and community kitchens, Pilgrim’s Hometown Strong commitment to rural community growth and wellbeing has made tangible impacts across the United States.
This year, our Better Futures program also continued to grow from Hometown Strong, seeing more employees embrace the opportunity to earn a higher education for themselves, or to provide one for their children or grandchildren tuition free. With over 370 participants and two program graduates to date, we’re excited to see our team members expanding their skill sets and working to make their lives—and our business—even better.
Globally, our sustainability impacts were equally resounding. As the first major meat and poultry company in the world to set a net-zero target, we continued to work toward our 2040 goal. With over 64 greenhouse gas (GHG) saving capital expenditure projects fully approved, and another 144 in the pipeline for approval, we’re approaching $44.7 million in GHG reduction investments to date.
Additionally, we’ve completed our first sustainability-linked bond audit this year, tracking our commitment to achieve a 30% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emission intensity by 2030. Compared against our 2019 benchmark, we’ve lowered GHG emission intensity by 10%, while also decreasing our absolute GHG emissions by 11%.
While our goals and efforts are constantly evolving, our vision remains consistent—to be the best and most respected company in our industry, creating the opportunity of a better future for our team members. As a result, this year also saw the launch of our internal “Speak Up Campaign” to promote use of the Pilgrim’s Ethics Line, as well as the formation of the Pilgrim’s Pride ESG Committee. Thinking beyond our signature initiatives—Hometown Strong, Better Futures, and Net Zero—the Committee has been tasked with overseeing our efforts in areas such as climate change, human rights, diversity and inclusion, and employee health, safety, and well-being to ensure excellence, humanity, and corporate responsibility permeate every level, and every action, of our organization.
We appreciate your ongoing support and look forward to keeping you updated on our progress.
Sincerely,
Fabio Sandri
Pilgrim’s Global CEO
