USA- Ardent Mills, a leading flour-milling company, announced significant strides in its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives for the fiscal year 2023.
The company’s latest annual ESG impact report, titled “Nourish: Intention & Impact,” outlines comprehensive advancements across four pillars: community, people, planet, and ingredients.
One of the notable achievements is the company’s commitment to sustainable energy practices. Ardent Mills successfully sourced 37% of its energy from renewable sources in 2023, marking a 7% increase from the previous year.
The company aims to achieve 50% renewable energy usage across its operations by 2025. This calculation includes direct sourcing of renewable energy, retention of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), participation in community solar projects, and purchasing replacement RECs.
Under the planet pillar, Ardent Mills has achieved 100% enrollment in composting and recycling programs across all facilities, boasting 44% and 73% diversion rates, respectively.
The company invested in regenerative agriculture, enrolling 348,281 acres in the United States and Canada, with a target of reaching 750,000 acres by 2025.
Ardent Mills also conducted a greenhouse gas emissions inventory, adhering to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol standards.
Ardent Mills saved 4.8 million gallons to conserve water resources through collaborations in regenerative agriculture, facility-level assessments, and extended trailer wash cycles.
Sustainable sourcing and product portfolio expansion
Ardent Mills is dedicated to sourcing ingredients sustainably. The company introduced a new leadership role, the supplier diversity lead, to add 50 new diverse suppliers to its portfolio by May 31, 2024, to double the number of diverse suppliers.
In 2023, the company sourced 100% RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil and expanded its product portfolio to meet the growing demand for gluten-free and alternative grain options.
Under the communities pillar, Ardent Mills focuses on expanding agricultural education opportunities. The “Growing a Better Future” program engaged with 945,000 students through agricultural education initiatives.
The company also announced financial contributions to support agricultural innovation at Kansas State University and Colorado State University.
In the people pillar, Ardent Mills is committed to creating a hospitable workplace environment, with priorities such as diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, employee well-being and safety, and employee development programs.
Notable initiatives include custom-designed and comfortable women’s uniforms, expansion of the “Flourish” intern program, and increased recruiting efforts at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Continuous commitment to ESG
Phoenix Dugger, senior manager of ESG at Ardent Mills, emphasized the company’s dedication to corporate responsibility.
“Our FY23 ESG report serves as a benchmark in our continuous journey toward being responsible corporate citizens, celebrating the progress we’ve achieved while charting our path forward,” said Dugger. “Guided by ‘Nourish: Intention & Impact,’ we continue to drive innovation, promote sustainability, and nurture a future that reflects our commitment to social and environmental responsibility.”
Ardent Mills remains at the forefront of milling companies, setting ambitious ESG goals and making significant strides towards a sustainable and responsible future.
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