KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The American Meat Institute Foundation recognized 124 meat and poultry plants with Environmental Recognition awards at its annual Conference on Worker Safety, Human Resources and the Environment held in Kansas City, Mo., March 20-21.

AMIF's Environmental Recognition Award Program is a four-tier, voluntary environmental management system that begins in Tier One with a basic package of environmental policy statements and policy compliance criteria. The program advances through more comprehensive requirements in Tier Two, while Tier Three incorporates a complete environmental management system developed in cooperation with the US Environmental Protection Agency. Tier Four is an ISO 14001 EMS.

Forty plants received Tier Four awards, and 61 companies were recognized for Tier Three, AMIF reported. Eleven plants were honored for Tier Two, and 12 plants completed Tier One.

“The meat and poultry industry has made great strides in our environmental programs said J. Patrick Boyle, AMI president and CEO, who presented the awards. “Companies understand that not only do these steps benefit their communities, they also make good business sense.”

AMIF also recognized eight plants with environmental achievement awards in Environmental Technology, Outreach and Training; Pollution Prevention; Resource Conservation; and Social and Economic Sustainability. Environmental achievement awards recognize member companies that go beyond environmental compliance by designing and successfully implementing innovative plant upgrades or environmental programs, AMIF said.