Kraft Foods uses a cream cheese byproduct to help power a New York plant. Sara Lee Corp. plans to run a New Mexico bakery using solar energy.
Al Gore's campaign against global warming is turning up the heat on the food industry. After years of taking on the oil and coal companies, environmental organizations are scrutinizing the makers of Oreos and Jimmy Dean sausages, and that's attracting the attention of consumers and investors.
Fearing retribution from environmentalists that could taint their brands, Kraft and Sara Lee are among companies responding by reducing the amount of energy and water they use.
"CEOs ignore this environmental movement at their own peril," says Steve Hellem, executive director of the Global Environmental Management Initiative, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization whose members include Kraft and other large corporations.
"If a company is identified as environmentally irresponsible, it will hurt their reputation and brands. The food companies know they need to focus on this, but they are still trying to figure out what to do."
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