Organization launches program for Ontario food and beverage manufacturers

Mississauga, Ont. – Provision Coalition – the food and beverage manufacturer sustainability organization – has announced a new program for Ontario food and beverage manufacturers.

In a statement, Provision Coalition says it has partnered with Loblaw Companies Limited to pilot “the new sustainability program” called Sustainability Management System Onsite Support Program.

Provision Coalition received a $748,200 Grow grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to help it get the program off the ground.

Bob Delaney, MPP for Mississauga-Streetsville in Ontario, says in the statement that Provision Coalition has been making inroads in the province, noting that the food and beverage industry has become more “sustainable, competitive and successful.”

“Provision Coalition’s contribution to Ontario’s agri-food sector promotes sustainability,” says Delaney, “while ensuring the agriculture and food sectors continue to grow.”

The statement says Provision Coalition and Loblaw Companies are delivering the program together. The aim of the program is to “provide support to 40 food and beverage manufacturers over a three-year period.”

Each company will receive help on how to develop or enhance its business strategy to ensure that it’s sustainable. This will include “support for production and process changes that will improve employee culture, reduce environmental impacts and decrease operational costs within their facility.”

Provision Coalition also has an on-line Sustainability Management System that food and beverage manufacturers can use as part of the program. The system has tools “to benchmark and track facility performance with the execution of their sustainable business strategy. Tools such as the Food Loss + Waste Toolkit and the Key Performance Indicator Dashboard will provide immediate and positive returns for manufacturers,” says the statement.

“Provision Coalition is committed to working with Ontario’s 3,000+ manufacturers on making meaningful aggregate reductions in the sector’s output of food waste and greenhouse gas emissions as two examples. We have the experience, the expertise and the tools to deliver on this project,” says Robert Cash, chair of Provision Coalition.

“Collaborating with Loblaw Companies Limited has demonstrated the importance and value of working across the supply chain in achieving common sustainability goals.”

For more information on the program or to participate as a manufacturer, visit: www.provisioncoalition.com 

Photo: Pictured from left to right are: Lynden King, an Ontario Trillium Foundation volunteer; Cher Mereweather,  executive director, Provision Coalition; Robert Cash, chair, Provision Coalition; and Bob Delaney, MPP Mississauga – Streetsville. (CNW Group/Provision Coalition)