NORTHFIELD, ILL. — Kraft Foods is continuing in its sustainability efforts as it increased its year-over-year purchases of coffee beans from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms by 50% last year. In addition, the company, along with other organizations, joined the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to announce the launch of a program that will invest $90 million during the next five years to advance the sustainable production of cocoa and cashews in Africa.

"These are two excellent examples of the progress we’re making in advancing the sustainable sourcing of our agricultural commodities," said Steve Yucknut, vice-president of sustainability. "This is a journey, and we still have work to do, but expanding our sourcing of beans from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms and partnering with the Gates Foundation represents significant steps."

Other sustainability goals include reducing plant energy usage by 25%, reducing plant energy-related carbon dioxide emissions by 25%, reducing plant water consumption by 15%, reducing plant waste by 15%, and eliminating 150 million lbs of packaging material.