Soil and Water Conservation Society’s Merit Award

In recognition of its local environmental efforts in the community, Cargill has been honored with the 2011 Merit Award from the Soil and Water Conservation Society.

The award is given in recognition of an outstanding activity, product or service by a corporation that promotes the conservation of soil, water and related natural resources.Cargill received the award for the work it has done over the past year with Living Lands & Waters (LL&W), an environmental organization that protects, preserves and restores the natural environment of major rivers in the United States. In 2007, LL&W launched its million-tree giveaway program by collecting and planting acorns at a nursery created on Cargill’s Beardstown, Ill., pork-processing plant property. As part of this program, nearly 100 Cedar Rapids employees planted 400 native trees in the Linn County area, including oak trees, which are commonly found along mid-west rivers and susceptible to flooding and disease. This is the third year employees from the location participated in the program to restore trees in the community.

2010 U.S. Sustainability Award

Citing the ability to balance long-term sustainability goals with the need to perform competitively, McDonald's USA selected Cargill for its 2010 U.S. Sustainability Award to recognize Cargill’s work in improving animal welfare practices, making the egg supply chain more sustainable and for our
efforts in setting long-range environmental goals.

Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award 

Over the years, numerous Cargill initiatives and operations have received awards for environmental ingenuity and innovation. In 2007, Cargill’s BiOH® polyol – a bio-based substitute for petroleum-based foams used in furniture applications – received the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

West-Vlaams Milieucharter Sustainability Charter Award

Every year for the past 15 years, Cargill’s refined oil operations in Izegem, Belgium have been recognized for their commitment to the environment with the West-Vlaams Milieucharter Sustainability Charter award. The same award has been given to Cargill’s bottled oil operations for six consecutive years – often presented by leaders of the Flemish government.

Citizenship Company Award – Uberlandia, Brazil

Municipality leaders reward dedication to sustainable environmental management at Uberlandia grain and oilseed facilities in Brazil. These Cargill facilities have earned recognition from the Planning and Environmental Municipal Secretary for high performance in water treatment and recycling. 

Cargill’s industrial Water Waste Treatment program in Uberlandia succeeds in preventing water pollution by harnessing effective processes that occur naturally. Three of our plants – corn milling, grain and oilseed processing, and citric acid production – feed wastewater from production activities into a group of anaerobic lagoons onsite. Lagoons function to remove partial organic matter from water before it is sent into the anaerobic reactor for final treatment. Once processed in the reactor, water is ready for reuse at Uberlandia facilities.