Sustainable Packaging Policy

Scope

Sara Lee Corporation is a global manufacturer and marketer of high-quality, brand-named food and beverage products. This policy pertains to all activities of Sara Lee Corporation that design, produce and use packaging within our operations and business processes worldwide. 

We use packaging to contain and protect our product quality and safety during production, transport and storage, and to display information on our products. Packaging plays a vital role in brand recognition and brand messages.  Packaging can also be part of the product functionality.  For example, ready-made packaged food and single serve coffee solutions - providing a higher consumer convenience and can reduce food waste.  Packaging is a source of waste and environmental impact so we are committed to manage it in the most responsible way possible.

We will:

• Support the implementation of sustainable packaging as defined by the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, of which we are a member company: 
  

        Sustainable Packaging:
          o Is beneficial, safe & healthy for individuals and communities throughout its life cycle;
          o Meets market criteria for both performance and cost; 
          o Is sourced, manufactured, transported, and recycled using renewable energy; 
          o Optimizes the use of renewable or recycled source materials; 
          o Is manufactured using clean production technologies and best practices; 
          o Is made from materials healthy in all probable end of life scenarios; 
          o Is physically designed to optimize materials and energy; and 
          o Is effectively recovered and utilized in biological and/or industrial closed loop cycles.  

• Improve the sustainability of our packaging by continually leveraging sustainability principals (5R’s - Remove, Reduce, Reuse, Renew and Recycle) and best practices during packaging design;
• Take into account that different materials will have different environmental impacts and choose materials with a lower impact, provided that other essential packaging requirements are not compromised;
• Take a holistic approach to packaging optimization by considering the environmental impact of the whole product in all life cycle stages, not just the packaging;
• Investigate new sustainable packaging solutions with bio-based raw materials that are recyclable, compostable or biodegradable and incorporate post-consumer recycled content;
• Together with our suppliers, actively work to eliminate Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) packaging and Bisphenol A (BPA) from packaging when an appropriate replacement is available and has been quality tested; and
• When appropriate, engage with our partners, suppliers, customers and stakeholders to minimize packaging waste throughout the lifecycle of our products.

Successful Packaging Reduction Efforts

International Highlights
Sara Lee Australia Coffee and Tea diverted over 50 metric tons of waste from the landfills to composting operations and beneficial reuse of the fabric bags that contain the green coffee beans. Moreover, by eliminating packaging of retail products in cans, we eliminated the use of 30 metric tons of metal in fiscal year 2011.

In Thailand, various packaging improvements in our Moccona Trio (instant coffee) product have led to a 50% reduction in paper use as well as a reduction in use of aluminum foil.
Sara Lee EuroDough in France redesigned the packaging for a product line and increased the number of products packaged in each box, thereby reducing the overall requirement for cardboard stock by 17 metric tons per year.

In Europe, the packaging of our L’OR EspressO capsules was redesigned resulting in 10% less packaging required per coffee capsule.

North American Highlights