“Sustainability, for us, is more than efficiency, and its measure goes beyond producing more with less,” Chairman Jim Perdue said in a statement. “We strive to align our practices with the values of our stakeholders, and, in doing so, act with responsibility. Our sustainable business model is one that makes choices affordable.”

The company also said it would continue to “challenge the status quo in animal agriculture by completing the conversion of all of its branded consumer products to no antibiotics ever.”

Perdue's developments in animal care helped the company receive a “Tier Two” ranking – the second highest – in the global 2017 Business Benchmark on farm animal welfare.

The changes included giving chickens more space and brighter light, studying enrichments and alternative breeds to improve welfare and achieving American Humane Association certification and 100 percent crate-free production for its Coleman Natural pork products.

“We can let our scale be a mass that resists change, or we can lead by listening to our stakeholders and let our scale add momentum to positive change,” said Perdue CEO Randy Day. “We saw that with our leadership in moving away from antibiotics. Our Commitments to Animal Care have accelerated a movement in animal agriculture to better provide for the welfare of the animals in our care.”

Perdue Farms also committed to achieving aggressive environmental sustainability goals. By 2022, the company said it plans to reduce greenhouse gases by 30 percent, reduce potable-water use by 25 percent and divert at least 90 percent of its solid waste from landfills with at least five facilities certified zero solid waste.

Finally, Perdue said it would expand its employee health program by eliminating co-pays for associates to primary care providers through its on-location doctor’s offices at 16 wellness centers. 

The full report is available at www.responsiblefoodandagriculture.com.