McCain Foods has released its 2024 Global Sustainability Report, documenting progress across its environmental and social initiatives. The report highlights advancement in the company’s regenerative agriculture program, with 71% of farming partners now onboarded to the McCain Regenerative Agriculture Framework and 24% actively engaged in implementing sustainability practices.
McCain Foods Limited is an international producer of frozen food products with operations in more than 160 countries. The company supplies products made with potatoes grown by approximately 3,900 farmers worldwide and has committed to implementing regenerative agriculture practices across 100% of its potato acreage by 2030. Current achievements suggest the company is advancing toward this target despite challenges including extreme weather, geopolitical instability, and inflation.
“Agriculture is at the heart of our business, and our commitment to regenerative agriculture is at the core of our sustainability journey,” stated Max Koeune, President and CEO of McCain Foods, in the report.
McCain Foods: Resource efficiency and operational improvements
The report details progress in operational efficiency, including:
- Renewable electricity now accounting for nearly 25% of total electrical energy use
- 12% absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions since 2017
- 20% improvement in water use efficiency at priority plants since 2017
- Approximately 9% reduction in food waste intensity across operations since 2020
The company also reports that approximately 99% of its paper packaging and 92% of its plastic packaging is now designed to be recyclable, reflecting broader trends toward sustainable packaging in the food industry.
Product and community initiatives
McCain’s sustainability framework extends beyond farming and operations to include product development and community engagement. The report notes that 97% of eggs used by the company now come from cage-free hens, while the acquisition of the Strong Roots brand has expanded the company’s plant-forward product offering.
Community impact initiatives documented in the report include:
- Donation of more than 18 million meals to food banks and NGOs
- Over 24,000 employee volunteer hours contributed during 2024
- Support for 13,971 vulnerable farmers and families since 2018
- Launch of the Eastfield Community Shop in the UK, which benefited 1,262 community members
The report also highlights Project Utthan, which has helped vulnerable farmers increase their income by 25% through transitioning to high-yield, short-term crops.
The company acknowledges that while progress has been made, further work remains to meet its long-term sustainability goals. “Our ambition to lead in regenerative agriculture has the potential to drive meaningful progress for farmers, communities, and consumers,” Koeune noted. “As we look to the future, we recognize there is more to do and strive to amplify these efforts, creating a lasting impact on the global food system.”
