J.M. Smucker Company
At a Glance
Industry
Consumer Packaged Goods
Project Types
Supply Chain, Sustainability and Energy Management Strategy
Year
2021
Location
Orrville, OH
Summary
Jess Halter identified opportunities for The J.M. Smucker Co. to reduce their environmental impact within agriculture supply chains.
Goals
In 2021, The J.M. Smucker Co. set a Science-Based Target to reduce scope 3 GHG emissions 22% per unit of sold product by 2030 from a 2019 base year. To support this effort, Smucker enlisted Jess Halter to collect data and develop actionable insights to inform climate action planning and Scope 3 reduction pathways within key agriculture supply chains. Halter’s goals included researching the impact of different ingredient supply chain activities, understanding industry best practices, and increasing institutional knowledge of next steps to achieve climate goals.
Solutions
Halter approached the challenge using a four-part process:
- Research and analyze potential supply chain strategies that align with climate goals established by Smucker and determine their short-, mid-, and long-term feasibility for the company.
- Interview peer companies and suppliers to learn about sustainability sourcing efforts, strategies for Scope 3 emission reduction measurement, and project best practices.
- Priority rank proposed strategies by weighing factors including reduction of environmental impacts, project costs, and opportunities for supplier engagement.
- Develop action plans that assess opportunities within the Smucker supply chains and provides recommendations for supplier engagement, data systems, and tools to inform the Company’s upstream supply chain climate plans.
Potential Impact
As a result of Halter’s work, Smucker has tangible action steps and guidance that provides a toolbox of on-farm projects, supplier engagement strategies, and industry engagement opportunities. She also analyzed the predicted Scope 3 emissions reductions from proposed projects and identified key considerations when implementing projects.
Halter presented to senior leadership and internal sustainability stakeholders to build awareness of opportunities within the supply chain and create support for Phase 1 projects.