Local Bounti shares ambitious expansion and sustainability goals
In 2023, success in business is being measured beyond just profit. Today, more and more customers and business partners are seeking to work with companies that share similar values, showcasing ESG and sustainability accomplishments alongside best-in-class products and services.
As our definition of success evolves, fresh produce industry organizations of all shapes and sizes are embracing sustainability. And as climate change continues to impact agriculture, the pressure to reduce climate impacts in agriculture is growing.
One producer, controlled environment agriculture leafy greens grower Local Bounti, has built its business strategy on growing leafy greens indoors with less water and food miles compared to traditionally grown leafy greens. Not satisfied to rest of its laurels, in a letter to customers the co-CEOs of Local Bounti, Craig Hurlbert and Travis Joyner, recently highlighted the ways in which the North American CEA grower is continuing to press forward and “expand its innovative, sustainable, high-tech growing operations.”
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“Over the past twelve months, Local Bounti has made significant advances toward its mission to deliver more locally, while reducing waste and impact across our business and in our operating communities,” Hurlbert and Joyner said in the letter. “With the acquisition of Pete’s Produce in April, adding two greenhouses in southern California and a subsequent newly built greenhouse which opened in Georgia in August, our facility count rose from one to four.”
Combined with the recent openings of Local Bounti’s new Washington and Texas facilities, the company is now able to offer leafy greens to most of the western and southern United States, added Hurlbert and Joyner in the letter.
Local Bounti’s ESG, by the numbers
Now in its second year of sustainability reporting, Local Bounti will continue to integrate its ESG and SEC reporting, adding the Climate Disclosure Project reporting to its disclosures, according to the letter.
These sustainability metrics, according to the letter, are to maintain Local Bounti’s focus on transparency while supporting firm emission reduction commitments, such as:
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Committing to sustainable packaging as a member of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition.
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Setting a target of 100% of consumer-facing packaging being recyclable, reusable or compostable by the end of 2025.
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Adopting a science-based target by the end of 2023.
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Producing GHG-free leafy greens by 2030.
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Producing net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“We have always seen our environmental focus as only one of the key attributes of sustainability,” Hurlbert and Joyner said. “Our employees and communities are key to our success, so paying a living wage and providing equivalent benefits to all our employees remains a key company commitment. We continue to build, improve and expand our facilities, investing in our local communities and providing support to our local organizations with produce donations and financial support."