The latest 2022 Environmental, Social, and Governance Lamb Weston report reveals several of the company’s quantitative goals to work toward in the coming years, as well as more qualitative commitments.
“We will provide updates on these goals annually, beginning with this report, against a 2020 baseline, unless noted otherwise. Our qualitative commitments are captured in the People, Food, and Planet sections of this report,” the document reveals.
Task Force Joins Together to Get the Most Out of Lamb Weston’s Potatoes
When extreme heat in the Pacific Northwest impacted the company’s potato crop, a cross-functional team from their Ag, Commercial, Operations, Logistics, Customer Service, and Quality teams came together to understand how to get the most out of the potato crop they’ve had.
“The heat meant smaller potatoes that were more prone to defects and a smaller yield overall. To make sure we were using as much of these potatoes as possible and to meet our customer commitments, this team came together to review our finished product specifications. The result was high-quality fries, with a modified specification set that allowed the operations team to be more efficient and use more of the available potato,” the report shows.
Involving Everyone in Food Safety
At Lamb Weston, food safety is everyone’s job, according to the company’s document.
“We invest in food safety and quality training for employees at all levels of the organization, including both training specific to job roles, and general courses and programs available to all,” Lamb Weston’s experts wrote.
Their newest program is Food Safety University, a program that helps employees better understand food safety principles and become mentors for others, allowing them to establish a succession plan for future food safety leaders. Since its launch in 2020, the company’s leaders advanced the program to include risk assessment, root cause problem solving, hygienic design, and verification and validation.
“We will graduate our first class of students in 2022,” the company’s representatives promise.
Other programs include Process Quality training, in which students learn the basics of food safety, quality programs, and potato processing. Almost all Lamb Weston employees interested in leadership positions undergo this training.
“In 2021, we provided this training virtually, with 26 employees participating. We also offer Advanced Potato Processing Training, an advanced course that delves more into the science behind potato processing. The more people who understand food safety across Lamb Weston, the better and safer our food will be,” the report reveals.
Upcycling
To reduce food waste, Lamb Weston has developed innovative approaches to upcycling. For example, the company uses pieces of potato that are too short to be fries in their chopped and formed items.
“We recapture other potato byproducts which are then refined into a specialized starch that is used in our proprietary coatings and batters. As we continue to innovate in this area, we’re also exploring how to reuse potato peel byproducts in processing, as well as how to optimize water, energy, and product waste to drive processing efficiencies,” the company’s experts say.
Tom Werner, president, and CEO Lamb Weston said: “Throughout this report, we’ve shared stories that demonstrate the steps we’re taking across our business to make progress together. We’re testing and trying new things, supporting each other in growth opportunities, and focusing on a long-term future for Lamb Weston. I hope this fiscal year 2021 report provides you with the same pride and confidence I have in this company and our bright future.”
Lamb Weston is a global team of more than 7,800 people with the primary goal of bringing great french fries and service to their customers.
