The North American Meat Institute conducted its first-ever continuous improvement report, setting a baseline for the meat industry to measure progress on sustainability goals.
According to the report, 81% of reporting facilities comply with NAMI’s commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The report had all of NAMI's large U.S. members submit data, which covers an estimated 90% of meat sold in the United States by volume.
In a statement, NAMI President and CEO Julie Anna Potts said “98% of American households purchase meat, putting our sector undoubtedly at the center of solutions for healthy diets, healthy communities, and a healthy planet for generations to come.”
The report, she added, helps to provide, “transparency in the sector — setting transparent baselines that will allow us to measure progress and verify our sector’s contributions to global goals.”
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The report also found:
- More than three-quarters (78%) of reporting facilities donated money or products to food banks and charities, helping to support NAMI’s commitment to measure and fill the “protein gap” for needy families by 2025. About $9 million was distributed this year to help food banks receive, store, package, and distribute fresh meat to families in need.
- More than eight in 10 (82%) of reporting facilities follow a company commitment to minimize packaging waste, and 71% follow a company commitment to reducing food waste.
- Nearly all (96%) of the reporting facilities that conduct meat processing require suppliers to maintain a written animal welfare program based on NAMI Animal Handling Guidelines.
- Nearly all (98%) of the reporting facilities have a multidisciplinary team that periodically reviews food safety programs and takes improvement actions.
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