As one of the largest food product development companies in the world, Griffith Foods is committed to doing our part to reduce our climate impacts to keep global warming below 1.5° C. An integral component to our strategy is our goal to source100% renewable electricity for our global operations by 2030. We are investing in renewable energy projects, like solar panels, across our operations to drive progress toward this goal.
When Griffith Foods made the decision to expand our manufacturing capacity in Southeast Asia in 2020, renewable energy was a key consideration. During our Thailand factory’s construction, we specifically designed the roofing to support a future solar installation. We commissioned the installation in February 2022, and it was completed in early 2023. This project is estimated to reduce CO2 emissions by 700 metric tons (MT) annually in addition to energy cost savings. Following the success of this project, we commissioned an additional solar installation at our Consolidated Warehouse in Thailand, which was completed in February 2024. These two projects combined will reduce CO2 emissions by 1,300 MT annually — equivalent to planting 61,000 trees.
Griffith Foods is also using solar energy to help power both of our facilities in Mexico. In November 2023, we began the installation of solar panels at manufacturing facilities in Atitalaquía and Santa Catarina. Both locations use top-quality solar panels to ensure optimal performance and durability. The Atitalaquía site, which began generating electricity in March 2024, also features an innovative “TRACKERS” system that follows the sun’s movement to maximize energy generation. This facility’s 633 kilowatt-peak (kWp) solar panel system provides nearly 40% of its energy needs and will generate 1,068,402 kilowatt-hour (kWh) and reduce CO2 emissions by about 1,100 tons every year. The Santa Catarina location, which began generating electricity in April 2024, boasts a 567 kWp solar panel system and generates over 30% of the plant’s energy requirements. This system is expected to generate 914,000 kWh and reduce CO2 emission by about 375 tons annually.
These installations are contributing to our goal to procure 100% renewable electricity for our global operations by 2030 and helping us reduce CO2 emissions toward our goal to reduce Scopes 1 and 2 by 50% by 2030. At the close of FY24, 10 facilities are now operating with renewably sourced energy, and six have on-site generation including Bangalore, India and Marinilla, Colombia.
Building on the success of the solar installations in Thailand and Mexico, Griffith Foods plans to further expand its renewable footprint in these regions. We plan to add 946 more panels in Monterrey and 1,056 more in Atitalaquía. We are also evaluating solar projects for additional facilities in other regions. These renewable energy projects further our commitment to drive positive impact through our 2030 Aspirations.
