Conagra Brands, Inc., Chicago, honored employees' commitment to reducing waste through its Zero Waste Champion Awards given to facilities that have redirected more than 95% of materials that would have otherwise been sent to landfills.

The nine facilities— Dresden, Canada; Hamburg, Iowa; Irapuato, Mexico; Kent, Wash.; Lake View, Iowa; Maple Grove, Minn.; Menomonie, Wis.; Oakdale, Calif.; and Waterloo, Iowa—achieved an 81.7% landfill diversion rate in the 2017 fiscal year.

"Waste reduction is critically important [to] our company, and we are dedicated to making improvements throughout our operations as part of our zero-waste strategy," says Gail Tavill, vice president, sustainable development. "Our Zero Waste Champions exemplify this commitment and demonstrate how employees are taking ownership to drive maximum use of material resources."

Conagra Brands' zero-waste strategy focuses on strategically reducing the amount of waste generated in its facilities and avoiding the need to transport valuable materials for discard in landfills.