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Nature Safe’s parent
company, Griffin Industries,
assumed a leadership role in recycling excellence in 1943 — long before
sustainability became a household term or corporate directive. As a
leading U.S. renderer, Griffin collects billions of pounds of animal and
food by-products annually. These materials are recycled into
environmentally friendly products such as organic fertilizers,
alternative fuels, and animal feeds as well as ingredients used in
consumer products to include soaps, cosmetics, paints, water repellents
and rubber. At Griffin Industries, environmental stewardship and
sustainability are a vital part of our business philosophy.
Nature Safe Fertilizers are designed and formulated to provide a
complete nutritional food to the soil for plant development and growth.
Each of Nature Safe’s ingredients contribute to the balanced
requirements for the plant. Griffin’s objective was to develop an
overall plant food from a nutritional standpoint, not from a waste
disposal need.
Carbon Footprint Reduction: Griffin’s recycling operations divert meat,
bakery, grocery and restaurant grease by-products from landfill waste
disposal, preventing the release of millions of tons of greenhouse
gases. In fact, for each ton of CO2 equivalent produced by our rendering
plants more than four tons are removed from the environment,
representing the most effective and sustainable recycling efforts in the
world.
Quality Assurance: As an integral part of the world’s food chain,
corporate sustainability must be rooted in quality assurance and
biosecurity to ensure food safety. Every Griffin and Bakery Feeds
facility has been certified through the American Feed Industry
Association's Safe Feed/Safe Food program. Griffin was a charter member
of this exclusive quality assurance program that validates production
facilities that have embraced feed-based safety programs, reduced food
safety risks and are actively participating in approved risk management
programs. This commitment is further illustrated in the company’s Code
of Practice certification by the American Protein Producers Industry
(APPI) based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)
concepts.
Product Development/Innovation: Griffin Industries has remained on the
cutting edge of new technology innovations in the promotion and
development of renewable energy. In fact, Griffin operates the longest
continuously producing commercial biodiesel facility in the U.S. using
feedstocks derived from animal fats and recycled restaurant grease. In
addition, Griffin has developed programs like Fat for FuelŪ that allow a
large percentage of our fat and grease products to be used as renewable
fuel sources in industrial applications, thus reducing dependency on
petroleum and natural gas.
Green Buildings and Operations: Griffin’s corporate office is certified
through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) program. LEED certification provides independent, third party
verification that a building is environmentally responsible and a
healthy environment to live and work. So, everything from ceiling tiles
and insulation to flooring, windows and lighting are selected for energy
efficiency to reduce our overall carbon footprint. In addition, many of
Griffin’s Bakery Feeds operations are certified as Biomass Conversion
Facilities. The USDA’s Farm Service Agency has certified their ability
to convert biomass (from bakery packaging and wood by-products) into
billions of BTUs of energy as part of the Biomass Crop Assistance
Program.
Environmental Stewardship: Every Griffin Industries production location,
including our Corporate Office, is certified through Audubon
International's Cooperative Sanctuary Program. In fact, Griffin
Industries has more locations and more acres certified than any other
company in the United States. This program recognizes environmental
stewardship excellence in terms of recycling effectiveness, energy
conservation, wildlife habitat and water conservation that translates
into Griffin's role as a global model for sustainable business
practices. Click here
for more information about environmental stewardship.
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