Taylor Farms celebrates its fifth facility receiving TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) certification, a third-party zero waste certification from Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), earlier this year. The TRUE certification program is used by facilities to define, pursue, and achieve their zero waste goals while cutting operational costs, reducing carbon emissions, and encouraging cross-functional employee collaborations. The certification goes beyond diversion metrics and focuses on the upstream policies and practices that help make zero waste successful in any facility.
Complying with TRUE's minimum program requirements, Taylor Farms' San Juan Bautista, California-based facility achieved an average diversion rate of 91.7 percent over 12 months. By following TRUE guidelines and exploring innovative solutions, the facility diverted 34,902 short tons of solid waste from landfills, incineration, and the environment.
Taylor Farms' San Juan Bautista, California-based facility achieved an average diversion rate of 91.7 percent over 12 months.
"We commend Taylor Farms for pursuing zero waste and achieving its fifth TRUE-certified project," said Peter Templeton, president and CEO, U.S. Green Building Council and GBCI. "This operational excellence sets a standard for others and invites them to join in implementing innovative sustainability practices to drive positive change within the industry."
The San Juan Bautista facility joins four other Taylor Farms operations that have received the TRUE certification, including:
- Taylor Farms Gonzales, California
- Taylor Farms Retail, Salinas, California
- Taylor Farms Schillings, Salinas, California
- Taylor Farms Guanajuato, Mexico
"We are proud that our efforts at the San Juan Bautista facility have earned us this highly respected recognition," said Wyatt Maysey, director of sustainability for Taylor Farms. "This milestone reflects our commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability practices, reaffirming our dedication to creating a greener, more sustainable future for generations to come."
Right: Wyatt Maysey
The Taylor Farms San Juan Bautista facility also utilizes various renewable and alternative energy resources to help meet its sustainability goals. A newly developed microgrid project combines solar panels, batteries, and fuel cells into one integrated onsite power solution. The solar panels generate 1.9 MW of energy, with 2MW of battery storage and the fuel cells generate 6 MW of energy. The microgrid will be able to power 100 percent of the San Juan Bautista facility, improving its resilience against grid outages while reaping financial savings.
These combined efforts from the material management program and solar installation at the facility are estimated to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 11,437 MTCO2e each year (calculations done using EPA WARM, ReFED Impact Calculator, and CCCE 2022 Power Content Label). That's equivalent to 2,545 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven for one year or 2,225 homes' electricity use for one year (per EPA's GHG Equivalencies Calculator).
For more information:
Rachel Molatore
Taylor Fresh Foods, Inc.
Tel: 831-676-9680
[email protected]
www.taylorfarms.com