McCain Foods Releases 2024 Global Sustainability Report

TORONTO, Feb. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - With the release of the global 2024 Sustainability Report, McCain Foods continues to make progress towards its goal to provide products that are more sustainably sourced – delivering good food to consumers, while supporting the communities where it operates. 

As part of McCain's commitment to partnering with more than 3,900 farmers worldwide to implement regenerative agriculture practices across 100% of their potato acreage used to grow McCain potatoes by 2030, we are pleased to report that in fiscal year 2024, 71% of our farmers were Onboarded to the McCain Regenerative Agriculture Framework, and 24% are Engaged in practices that aim to improve farm resilience, demonstrating strong progress for regenerative agriculture methods. These are key benchmarks indicating McCain is well on its way to meeting this commitment.

"Agriculture is at the heart of our business, and our commitment to regenerative agriculture is at the core of our sustainability journey," said Max Koeune, President and CEO of McCain Foods. "In the face of challenges like extreme weather, geopolitical unrest, and inflation, McCain remains dedicated to working with partners and communities to drive meaningful progress toward its targets to achieve a resilient supply chain and a more sustainable future."

McCain has made good progress across its four sustainability pillars. Notably, strides were made with renewable electricity accounting for nearly 25% of McCain's total electrical energy use in 2024, a 12% absolute reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) since 2017 and a 20% improvement in water use efficiency at priority plants since 2017.

Key 2024 Sustainability Highlights: Smart and Sustainable Farming

• 71% of our farming partners were Onboarded to the McCain Regenerative Agriculture Framework, and 24% are Engaged.
• Expanded global agricultural financial support partnerships, with nearly half of McCain farming partners eligible for regenerative agriculture loans or incentives.
• Delivered 25,600+ hours of training to help farming partners transition to regenerative farming methods.
• 22% of our total portfolio used water-stress tolerant potato varieties.

Resource-Efficient Operations

• 23% of McCain's total electrical energy consumption is from renewable electricity.
• 12% absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions since 2017.
• 20% improvement in water use efficiency at priority plants since 2017.
• Approximately 9% reduction in food waste intensity across operations since 2020.
• Approximately 99% of paper packaging and 92% of plastic packaging is designed to be recyclable.

Good Food

• 97% of our eggs came from cage-free hens.
• Acquired vegetable-forward Strong Roots brand, expanding plant-forward product offering.
• 98% of McCain-owned facilities and tier one ingredient supplier facilities achieved GFSI-recognized certification.
• Reduced the sales-weighted average sodium in McCain-branded appetizer products by 6.5% since 2018.

Thriving Communities

• Donated more than 18 million meals to food banks and NGOs in 2024.
• Contributed over 24,000 employee volunteer hours in 2024.
• Supported 13,971 vulnerable farmers and families since 2018, achieving McCain's 2025 target a year ahead of schedule.
• Launched flagship community project, the Eastfield Community Shop in partnership with Community Shop Group in the UK, which benefitted 1,262 community members in its first year.
• Through Project Utthan, helped vulnerable farmers increase their income by 25% through transitioning to high-yield, short-term crops.

Also included in McCain's 2024 Sustainability Report is progress towards supporting safety and employee experience within internal operations.

"It is through collaboration across the value chain that we are able to drive progress," says Max Koeune. "Our ambition to lead in regenerative agriculture has the potential to drive meaningful progress for farmers, communities, and consumers. As we look to the future, we recognize there is more to do and strive to amplify these efforts, creating a lasting impact on the global food system."

Read McCain's global 2024 Sustainability Summary Report and all associated downloadable assets here.

About McCain Foods (Canada)

McCain Foods (Canada) is the Canadian division of McCain Foods Limited, an international leader in the frozen food industry. McCain Foods is the world's largest manufacturer of prepared potato specialties, and produces other quality products such as appetizers, vegetables and desserts that can be found in restaurants and retail stores in more than 160 countries around the world.

SOURCE McCain Foods