As a manufacturer of snacks such as Doritos, Tostitos, Fritos and Munchies, Frito Lay Canada's Lethbridge Plant maintains consciousness toward environmental sustainability through the "Performance with Purpose" (PwP) initiative. The objective of PwP is to achieve business and financial success while protecting natural resources and minimizing impacts to the environment. Over the last five years we have reduced energy and water consumption, waste minimization and have been committed to stakeholder education. Through PwP, the plant has achieved significant results environmentally, socially and economically. They have reduced GHG emissions by 14% (2 000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent), as well as reducing our percentage waste to landfill from 30% in 2004 to 6.2% in 2008. The employees are engaged as well, with high participation levels in Change-A-Light and Alberta's Computers for Schools. Frito Lay Canada's Lethbridge Plant have also proven that the right thing for the environment can benefit economically by reducing energy, water and waste costs by approximately $500 000 annually.
Barriers/Challenges To Success
Prior to 2004, the facility discharged wastewater to the City of Lethbridge. Realizing that the plant was reaching capacity, FLC Lethbridge needed a different solution; individuals at the site designed, implemented and tested the centrifuge for wastewater treatment application, which consequently reduced TSS by nearly 70% and BOD by nearly 20%. In attempting to reduce the amount of trash produced by employees, FLC Lethbridge realized that this was a difficult task to accomplish. To promote this cultural change, the plant replaced regular office trash cans with "mini" cans. The plant gradually reduced the amount of trash produced since they had limited space in which to place it.
Contact
Mr. Gordon Williams
Plant Sustainability Coordinator
Frito Lay Canada
