For 88 years, Smithfield has produced good food the right way, which has sustained our business and created one of the largest food companies in the world. Over the past two decades we have adopted policies, programs and processes that have continually strengthened our sustainability programs.
Our Sustainability Story
We were the first major protein company to adopt, and publicly report, a comprehensive sustainability program, covering topics material to our stakeholders and including executive oversight and goals and targets.
Over the past 22 years, we have made improvements to our sustainability program, updating our targets and commitments to produce safe, wholesome and nutritious food responsibly.
In 2023, we made progress toward achieving our latest targets from 2020, adopted new targets, and renewed commitments to maintain sustainability policies and programs that touch every aspect of our business.
Our Sustainability Strategy and Pillars
Our sustainability strategy is informed by our sustainability priorities, guided by GRI, SASB and the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals, and grounded in our seven pillars — animal care; environmental stewardship; diversity, culture and engagement; helping communities; worker health and safety; food safety and quality; and health and wellness — organized according to our principles for doing good.
Our sustainability strategy and pillars are built on a strong foundation of integrity, compliance, governance and trust.
Good Stewards
Good Work
Good Food
Governance
OUR PRINCIPLES AND VALUES
We are guided every day by our principles of Responsibility, Operational Excellence and Innovation, and we are dedicated to Continuous Improvement in every aspect of our operations. Gratitude, Communication, Respect and Accountability — Our “Core Four” Values — define our culture and are central to our success, serving as the basis for how we work with one another at all levels of our organization.
OUR APPROACH TO GOVERNANCE
Producing “Good food. Responsibly.®” is our hallmark and means being a leader that sets sustainability benchmarks for our industry. Good governance principles and management practices, which form the foundation for our sustainability strategy, are incorporated in our seven pillars. We set targets and commitments for each of our pillars, and we periodically evaluate and adjust them to reflect current best practices. We use those principles and practices, our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, stakeholder engagement and supply chain management to build trust in our company.
Since our founding in 1936, Smithfield Foods has been committed to doing business the right way.
Our animal care policies and practices document our commitment to the well-being, health and comfort of our animals.
For more than 20 years, Smithfield has employed policies, processes and technologies to reduce our environmental footprint.
