Environmental report

An inevitable consequence of the Group’s activities is the impact they have on the environment. This report highlights the efforts made by respective divisions to ensure good business practices with regard to the environment. Each operating division is working on sustainability issues in alignment with its industry on an independent basis as reflected by the table below.

Pioneer Foods and its operating divisions are committed to providing quality food products that comply with legal and regulatory requirements. Significant investment in research and development drives product excellence and innovation across defined aspects of the premium brand portfolios contributes to the intended outcomes.

The synopsis hereunder provides highlights for the four major operating divisions:

FOOD SAFETY
To support and further enhance the integrity of the Group’s brands and products, food safety is non-negotiable. Food safety programmes have been implemented at divisions to ensure that high food safety standards are achieved and maintained.
SASKO		BOKOMO FOODS		AGRI BUSINESS		THE CERES BEVERAGE COMPANY
All mills are HACCP certified. Eight bakeries have also been HACCP certified. The remaining bakeries are managing food safety via inhouse programmes.		HACCP, BRC, AIB, and ISO 9000 accreditations are maintained at certain plants and monitored by quality officers on site and via a centralised structure to attain high food safety standards consistently.		The HACCP system is in place at all the abattoirs. Food safety audits are done regularly in all factories. At the animal feed factories, near infrared analysis is done on incoming raw materials and outgoing final products.		The Ceres fruit juices factory continues to maintain its ISO 9001, HACCP, BRC and SANAS accreditations.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION ENVIRONMENTAL AND WASTE MANAGEMENT
Compliance to health and safety regulations is not negotiable. The use of energy and other scarce resources are monitored constantly. Waste reduction is necessary to ensure long-term sustainability and survival.
SASKO		BOKOMO FOODS		AGRI BUSINESS		THE CERES BEVERAGE COMPANY
All mills and bakeries have completed NOSA audits and this information will be used as the base for the implementation of a SASKO Integrated Management System.		Water and electricity usage is monitored continuously. Recently a dedicated specialist has been appointed to manage energy-saving technology and projects within the Division.		NOSA rated. Independent service provider to assist or audit health and safety systems.		The Ceres fruit juice factory has a 4-star NOSA rating and has been recommended for ISO 14000 accreditation. The Ceres fruit juice factory also maintains its high-tech effluent treatment plant to ensure that all effluent is processed correctly. The business participates in various recycling programmes for packaging types such as glass, cans and plastic.

KEY

HACCP – Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points
NOSA – National Occupational Safety Association
BRC – British Retail Consortium
ISO 9000 – International Organisation for Standardisation – Quality Management Systems – Series of Standards
ISO 9001 – International Organisation for Standardisation – Quality Management System Standard – Requirements
ISO 14000 – International Organisation for Standardisation – Environmental Management Systems – Series of Standards
AIB – American International Bakery
SANAS – South African National Accreditation System