“Sustainability is a global effort at Sara Lee,” said Audra Karalius, vice president of sustainability, environment and safety for the Sara Lee Corp. The company is based in Downers Grove, Ill.

The company has set a goal of reducing waste sent to landfills by 12% between 2005 and 2012.

Six of the company’s global facilities have achieved zero waste to landfills, and others are making progress in reducing their annual tonnages sent to landfills as well, the report states. Companywide, waste sent to landfills has decreased by 32%, the company said.

For example, the Sara Lee coffee plant in Suffolk, Va., achieved zero waste to landfills in 2009, through a mixture of composting, recycling and use of waste-to-energy facilities. In Albuquerque, N.M., the bakery reduced its landfilled waste from 25 metric tons in the first quarter to 12.25 metric tons in the third quarter of 2009 by recycling paper ingredient bags, cardboard, shrink wrap, bread bags and broken plastic trays.

Also, in Bellevue, Neb., the bakery there recycled 1,360 metric tons of scrap metal, batteries, food waste, cardboard, pallets and other mixed waste in 2009.

The company has implemented several environmental management procedures. For example, workers are encouraged to find ways to minimize waste by-products in the manufacturing stream and to find ways to recycle the waste that is generated. Supply packaging is collected and recycled or returned to suppliers when possible, and water is reused whenever possible. Mixed waste is sorted and recyclables removed before being sent to landfills, and efforts are made to reduce air emissions and energy use.

Renewable energy also is being used. The company’s coffee factory in Joure, the Netherlands, uses spent coffee grounds from its manufacturing process and biogas as main energy sources for the factory’s steam boiler, reducing natural gas consumption by 40%.

“Sara Lee is committed to promoting wellness and nutrition, supporting our communities, and protecting our planet,” according to the company’s sustainability site.