Marfrig launches water management project
The company claims to be the first meat processor to undertake this type of initiative, mapping its detailed 'water footprint' from farm to consumer using methodology from the Water Footprint Network, an organisation created in 2008 to promote the efficient and sustainable use of water.
“A good management of water resources is a point of great importance for the sustainability of Marfrig’s operations. The methodology of the Water Footprint Network will be applied not only to quantify water use, but also to help improve the quantification and assessment of environmental impact of operations,” said Clever Pirola Avila, Marfrig’s director of sustainability.
The company’s Amparo poultry plant, and Bataguassu beef plant, will be the first two units where the methodology will be applied, with results compiled by mid-2012. According to Marfrig, they were chosen because they are very representative of the two segments, making it easier to use the 'water footprint' results as a reference for other units.
“The goal is to get an image of the current situation of not only the consumption, but mainly the use of water in these two plants. Based on the results of this technical survey, we will have a direction on the best strategy for water management,” added Avila.
Marfrig also created a committee on water resources in Brazil. Avila said: “These actions are an important step to constantly improve the group’s operations and strengthen the commitment to national and international markets for the supply of sustainable products.”
Last year, the company held its first global inventory of greenhouse gases, in all its 152 units in 22 countries, collecting information from hatcheries and farms to beef, sheep, pork and poultry processing plants.
The results of the study will be published in the second half of 2012.
