Sustainability | Imperial Dade

Our Environmental Commitment

At Imperial Dade, environmental stewardship is integrated into every aspect of our operations, from product sourcing to last-mile delivery. Since launching our Green Choice program in 2018, we have helped customers reduce packaging waste by 34% while maintaining cost targets through strategic material optimization.

Our sustainability framework focuses on three core pillars: certified sustainable products, operational carbon reduction, and circular economy partnerships. This comprehensive approach has enabled us to achieve measurable environmental impact across our 150+ distribution centers while supporting customers' own ESG reporting requirements.

In 2024, our eco-friendly packaging portfolio grew to represent 42% of total revenue, up from 28% in 2022. This growth reflects both customer demand and our proactive investment in developing sustainable alternatives across all product categories from foodservice packaging to industrial materials.

Certifications & Standards

Third-party verified environmental compliance across our product portfolio

FSC Certified Products

Over 2,500 SKUs certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, ensuring responsible forest management. Our FSC Chain of Custody certification (FSC-C123456) covers paper products, corrugated boxes, and wood-based packaging materials.

Impact: 78% of our paper-based products now carry FSC certification, representing sustainably sourced materials from verified forests.

ISO 14001 Environmental Management

All Imperial Dade distribution centers operate under ISO 14001:2015 certified environmental management systems, verified annually by third-party auditors. Our EMS framework addresses energy use, waste reduction, and chemical handling.

Impact: 23% reduction in operational waste since 2020 through systematic environmental controls.

BPI Certified Compostable

Over 800 foodservice products certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) to meet ASTM D6400 and D6868 standards for commercial composting. These products break down within 90-180 days in industrial facilities.

Impact: Customers divert 12,000+ tons annually from landfills through our compostable product programs.

Additional Environmental Certifications

SFI Certified: Sustainable Forestry Initiative certification for responsible fiber sourcing
Green Seal Certified: Over 300 cleaning products meeting GS-1, GS-37, and GS-40 standards
EPA Safer Choice: 150+ chemical products verified by EPA for reduced human and environmental toxicity

Ocean-Bound Plastic Certified: Packaging made from plastic collected within 50km of coastlines
Carbon Trust Certified: Product carbon footprint verification for major SKU categories
How2Recycle Labeled: Clear recycling instructions on 1,200+ product packages

Sustainable Business Practices

Operational initiatives driving environmental performance improvements

Recyclable Materials Program

Our product development team prioritizes mono-material packaging designs that maximize recyclability in existing municipal systems. Since 2020, we have transitioned 1,800+ SKUs from multi-layer composites to recyclable alternatives.

Key Achievements (2024):

68% of packaging portfolio now recyclable in curbside programs (up from 52% in 2021)
Eliminated 450 tons of PVC packaging through PET and PP substitution
Launched closed-loop recycling program for stretch film at 45 customer locations, recovering 280 tons in first year
Partnered with TerraCycle for hard-to-recycle items including multilayer films and specialty plastics

Energy Efficiency & Renewable Power

All Imperial Dade facilities built since 2019 achieve LEED certification through energy-efficient design, LED lighting, and smart HVAC systems. Our energy management program has reduced electricity consumption by 31% per square foot since 2018.

Current Initiatives:

Solar installations on 12 distribution centers generating 4.2 MW capacity, covering 18% of facility power needs
Purchased 100% renewable energy credits for remaining grid power at 85 locations
Upgraded to electric forklifts at 60% of warehouses, eliminating 1,200 tons CO2e annually
Motion-sensor LED lighting retrofit completed across 120 facilities, reducing lighting energy by 64%

Fleet Optimization & Emissions Reduction

Our transportation division operates 800+ delivery vehicles optimized through route planning software that reduces total miles driven by 22% versus 2019 baseline. This efficiency directly reduces fuel consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions.

Fleet Sustainability Metrics (2024):

Transitioned 15% of fleet to compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles in urban markets, reducing NOx emissions by 85%
Deployed 25 electric delivery trucks for last-mile routes under 100 miles daily
Achieved 99.2% delivery consolidation rate, minimizing partial truckloads
Reduced fuel consumption by 2.1 million gallons annually through route optimization and driver training programs

Waste Management & Circular Economy

We implement comprehensive waste diversion strategies across all operations, targeting zero waste to landfill by 2030. Our facilities currently achieve 76% waste diversion through recycling, composting, and material recovery programs.

Waste Reduction Programs:

Recycled 8,400 tons of cardboard, plastic, and metal from operations in 2024
Established take-back programs for damaged packaging, recovering 95% for recycling or energy recovery
Composted 1,200 tons of organic waste from foodservice demonstrations and employee cafeterias
Reduced packaging materials in outbound shipments by 18% through right-sizing and reusable container programs

2024 Environmental Performance

Verified metrics demonstrating measurable environmental impact

42%

Revenue from Sustainable Products

Up from 28% in 2022

31%

Energy Reduction per Sq Ft

Since 2018 baseline

76%

Waste Diverted from Landfills

Across all facilities

2,500+

FSC Certified SKUs

Responsibly sourced materials

Carbon Footprint Disclosure (Scope 1, 2, 3)

Imperial Dade conducts annual greenhouse gas inventories following the GHG Protocol standards. Our 2024 carbon footprint totaled 145,000 metric tons CO2e across all scopes:

Scope 1 (Direct Emissions): 32,000 MT CO2e from company-owned vehicles and facility heating
Scope 2 (Purchased Energy): 18,000 MT CO2e from electricity consumption (market-based method accounting for renewable energy credits)
Scope 3 (Value Chain): 95,000 MT CO2e including purchased goods, upstream transportation, and waste disposal

Reduction Target: Committed to 50% absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 (versus 2020 baseline), aligned with Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) methodology for limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

Build Your Sustainable Supply Chain

Partner with us to achieve your environmental goals without compromising performance or budget

Speak with Sustainability Team