Home

Water Conservation

Every Drop Matters

Since water is vital to growing and processing tomatoes and other crops, Heinz  believes it is important to conserve this essential resource for future generations and to help guarantee that we have the water we need to operate well into the  future.

Our work in sustainable agriculture includes collaborating with suppliers around the world to implement water conservation initiatives, particularly drip irrigation methods that are substantially reducing crop-production water usage in North America, Europe, and Australia. Drip irrigation delivers a steady supply of moisture close to the ground to nourish plants, resulting in slower evaporation and lower overall water usage.

Over the past two fiscal years, nearly three million cubic meters of water have been saved at our global manufacturing operations. We are tracking these water savings through the measurement of incoming water, and continue to seek additional water conservation opportunities.

Great Savings Flow From Innovation

North America
Heinz launched a series of initiatives referred to as Utility Optimization Projects in 2007 that are expected to save 30 million gallons of water annually. At our facilities in the United States, water is being captured, treated and reused as many as 10 times in the manufacturing process.

Australia
Heinz achieved a 50% reduction in water used per ton of product manufactured at our Echuca facility in 2007. This was done through the installation of new equipment that regulates water use and includes motion sensors that turn water on and off when a line is in use. A project to achieve a further 20% reduction in water usage is now underway.

Venezuela
Heinz saved 16.4 million gallons of water by upgrading to more efficient infant nutrition production equipment.

Europe
We took steps to improve wastewater cleaning and to cut overall water consumption.

China
Heinz is reusing treated discharged water for landscaping purposes and has reduced water usage through staff education and technology.