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Sustainability, Perception,
and the Real World –
The Raw Material
Conundrum
Kent Swisher, Vice President, International
Programs
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At First Glance
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Overwhelming
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Definitions
Sustainability, Perception, and the Real World –
The Raw Material Conundrum
• Sustainability – Different meanings to different
folks
• Conundrum - A question or problem having only a
conjectural answer
– Conjecture - an opinion or conclusion formed on the
basis of incomplete information
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Perception
Meeting your customers perception of sustainability
-Until you know how your customers define
sustainability (perception), any conclusion formed is
pure conjecture.
OR
You can define sustainability for your own
industry/company and try to shape the perception of
your customers.
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Objectives of this Presentation
• To provide a broad review of how industries
address sustainability
• To get the audience thinking of how they can/do
address sustainability in their own
industries/businesses
• Show how the rendering industry fits into the
concept of sustainable food production
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UN Definition - 1987
Development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs.
Source: United Nation's World Commission on Environment and
Development (the
Brundtland Commission), 1987.
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Sustainability – Venn Diagram
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Case Studies
• Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)
• U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol
(USSP)
• IFFO Global Standard for Responsible Supply
(IFFO RS)
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WHY RSPO?
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WHY RSPO?
Singapore Indonesia
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Roundtable on Sustainable Palm
Oil (RSPO)
• An example of a sustainability initiative forced
back on the producer from the consumer
• Initiated by the World Wildlife Federation (WWF)
in 2001
• Formalized in 2004 with the seat of the
association located in Zurich, Switzerland and the
Secretariat in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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U.S. Soy Sustainability
Assurance Protocol
• Certified aggregate approach
• Based on farmer participation in U.S. farm
programs – 95% of US farms participate.
• Also certifies specific export shipments
• Initiated at producer level
• Taking what soy producers are already doing and
communicating it
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International Fishmeal and Fish
Oil Organization (IFFO)
• IFFO Global Standard for Responsible Supply
(IFFO RS)
• Launched 2009
• Focused on certifying sustainable production
• Requires third party certification
• Penalized producers who deal with unsustainable
raw material providers
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IFFO RS – cont.
• An example of sustainability certification being
driven both my industry and by consumers
• IFFO is tasked with distinguishing itself from
many other certification entities
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Is the rendering industry
“sustainable”?
Development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs.
Source: United Nation's World Commission on Environment and
Development (the
Brundtland Commission), 1987.
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Is the rendering industry
“sustainable”?
• Environmental
– Millions of dollars are put into waste water treatment
and odor controls in rendering plants
– Renderers are removing by-products from the food
chain that would otherwise be disposed of with an
environmental impact
• Social
– Renderers help communities and employ both in rural
and urban areas
– Renderers are creating a better tomorrow for our
children
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Is the rendering industry
“sustainable”?
• Economic
– Rendering is a 10 billion dollar industry
– Rendering provides value added, renewable products
for customers in the livestock feed, pet food, oleo
chemical, and biofuel industries
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Final - Conclusion
• Sustainability is a concept more than a definition
and it can be broadly interpreted
• Rendered products overwhelmingly meet
sustainability criteria – is there a need for a
“certification” to market that information?
• As a supplier you can try to discover your
costumers “perception” of sustainability and try to
provide what their perception demands
• You can create and market your own concept of
what sustainability means and market that to your
customer.
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Thanks
