News Article
Recognizing Our Clients: Models for Enviromental Stewardship
Date: April 23, 2007
The Soper Wheeler Company, Lundberg Family Farms and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company are widely recognized for their proactive commitment to environmental stewardship. This commitment to the environment is reflected in the core principles driving their businesses and MITC is proud to have these industry leaders as our clients.
The Soper Wheeler Company
The Soper-Wheeler Company is the oldest privately owned timber company in California managing over 97,000 acres of forest throughout northern California.
For over 100 years, the Soper-Wheeler Company has remained dedicated to maximum perpetual productivity by staying true to its founding principles of conservative forest management, long-term planning, sustained yield harvesting, and reforestation. Soper- Wheeler Company is not only a forest products company, it is a part of the forest. Its headquarters is not in a financial center, but in the heart of the forest. Headquartered in Strawberry, CA, Soper Wheeler strives to understand the land, the trees, and their workers and to bring them together in a shared and full life.
Company operation is based upon fundamental rules evolved by the original founders. James Soper’s philosophy on land management is exemplified in Soper’s First Law: "When maximum profit goals appear to be in conflict with established conservation principals and sustained yield, then in all probability the profit projection needs re-examination."
The application of conservation principals to resource management has served the company well over the long run. The formula has maintained the basic objective of Soper-Wheeler to manage its lands in a responsible fashion; to provide a reasonable profit to the firm; to contribute materially to the productivity of the nation; and to augment the economy of local communities.
Silviculture - Applied Forest Ecology
Sustainable Forestry through Conservation and Long-term Care. Soper Wheeler is dedicated to the use of Silviculture techniques in all aspects of their forest management activities. Silviculture is the oldest conscious application of the science of ecology and is a field recognized before the term ecology was coined. Silviculture is the biological technology for forests and woodlands that carries ecosystem management into action. By embracing the Silviculture philosophy, Soper Wheeler has established a deep and mutually beneficial connection to the entire forest ecosystem.
Where timber stands are producing poorly due to low stocking and/or regeneration is choked by brush or hardwoods; the area is clear cut, the brush or hardwoods are rooted out and new trees are planted. This is much like nature might do with wildfire except that the company takes great pains to protect creeks and wildlife. In better stocked stands, selection cuttings are made depending on the age of the stand, to maintain a healthy growing forest while capturing growth which might otherwise be lost to insects and disease. All logging is done under the careful supervision of company foresters by company or contracted logging crews with a focus on protecting soil from erosion.
A key to Soper Wheeler success rests in their understanding of a very simple fact: Forests live longer than people; therefore all planning and management of a sustainable forest must be approached with that fact in mind. As a result, Soper Wheeler plans for the care and maintenance of various sections of their forest in cycles of forty, fifty and one hundred years. Whole areas are left to rest and rejuvenate for decades as others come into production. Within the forest, the healthiest ‘seed’ trees are kept for use in producing other trees over time. All vital elements of the forest ecosystems — soil, water, animals, and plant including the trees — are meticulously monitored while intervention into the natural cycle is kept at a minimum.
Lundberg Family Farms
Since 1937 Lundberg Family Farms has been growing rice in harmony with nature. A third generation family-run business, located in Richvale, California, Lundberg is a leader in producing and marketing rice for natural markets.
Albert Lundberg brought his wife and four sons to California from Nebraska in the depths of the environmental disaster of his day: the Dust Bowl. He believed in sustainable farming long before it was fashionable. “He didn’t really fit in with the thinking of the time,” says his son, Harlan.. "Dad always had an attitude that he wanted to make the soil better."
In the late 1960’s, Albert’s sons, Eldon, Wendell, Harlan and Homer, took their father’s sustainable farming techniques a step further, and began producing rice organically, selling their family’s rice to the emerging natural foods markets, and created the Lundberg brand. This gave consumers a choice of the rice they could purchase, and enabled the family to continue building their strategy of sustainability in rice farming, and extend it to food processing.
Agronomic Practices
Over the years, the family has pioneered a number of methods for growing rice organically. "It is our belief that if you have healthy soil, you will produce healthy food. We respect the land and the wildlife that depends on it and our eco-positive farming methods continue to improve the environment for future generations," says Wendell Lundberg. For example, the family stopped burning their rice fields decades ago, seeing the residual straw as another beneficial input for enriching the soil, rather than a waste product to be disposed of. They actively encourage waterfowl to winter in their fields, which provides a great habitat for migrating waterfowl, aides in straw decomposition after harvest, and provides natural fertilization for the fields.
Lundberg has also pioneered effective water usage on its land. "All water used on our farm is treated as a precious resource, and managed very tightly. Over the years, our water usage has been lower than the average usage in the district," says Homer Lundberg. "We have to time the cut-off of our water perfectly so the rice does not turn chalky and produce a poor crop,” says Eldon Lundberg. “Our water management techniques not only conserve water, but aid in our weed control efforts."
In 2005, Lundberg was recognized by the Conservation Security Program of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service for its environmentally conscious farming methods. The Conservation Security Program is a voluntary program that supports the ongoing stewardship of private agricultural lands by recognizing and rewarding those farmers and ranchers who meet the highest standards for environmental management of their lands.
"My father taught me the importance of improving the land, as his father taught him,” says Bryce Lundberg, Vice President of Agriculture and third generation family member. “I’m proud that our family has been able to stay true to this sustainable vision of farming for three generations, and am trying to teach this same care of the land to my children."
Pest Control
Lundberg uses a number of natural methods to control pests in their fields, storage, production and warehouse facilities. For example, owl boxes are placed around the fields and the facilities to encourage nesting, and to keep rodent populations in check. Water fowl also aid in natural pest control. In its drying facilities, sanitation is the first line of defense to keep pests out of the rice. This starts with cleaning the rice before it is put in storage, and continues with vigilance to keep all areas free of materials that may harbor pests. When insect outbreaks do occur in storage bins, they are filled with non-toxic carbon dioxide to eliminate the insects. The production facilities use heat treatment to eradicate insects without the use of pesticides. In its warehouse, Lundberg controls pests with a combination of sanitation, ambient temperature and traps.
Wind Power
In 2003, Lundberg became one of the first food manufacturers to purchase wind credits to offset 100% of its electrical use. The company was recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy for its environmental leadership in 2004 with a National Green Power Leadership Award. It purchases wind credits for over 4,000,000 kw of electrical usage per year. "Our use of renewable energy for all of our electrical needs is a logical extension of my grandfather’s commitment to sustainable business practices," says Grant Lundberg, CEO and one of the third generation family members running the business today.
Solar Power
In 2006, Lundberg extended its commitment to renewable energy by installing a 200kW photovoltaic electric generating system to power its dryers. "This solar energy option not only falls in line with the company’s environmentally focused philosophy, but it makes good business sense,” according to Jessica Lundberg, Chair of the company’s board of directors, and another of the third generation family members actively involved in the company’s operations. “When we invest, we’re planning long-term both in terms of sustaining the soil and the environment, and in making sure there’s a viable business to pass on to future generations."
A second photovoltaic system is now being installed on one of the company’s warehouse facilities. In addition to generating more renewable energy, this installation will provide shade to the warehouse, which will also reduce the energy consumed in keeping the warehouse cool. Between the two installations, approximately 20% of the company’s electricity usage will be provided through solar power.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Sierra Nevada Brewery was established in 1979. Ken Grossman is the company’s founder, CEO, and master brewer. Ken started the business in a small converted warehouse in Chico, CA. An avid backpacker, Ken named the new company for his favorite hiking grounds—the Sierra Nevada mountains. He has guided the company’s growth and expansion as it has become a foundation of the community and the premier craft brewery in the United States.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.’s primary mission is to produce the finest quality ales and beers. They believe this mission can be accomplished without compromising the company’s role as a good corporate citizen and environmental steward. Since the beginning, Sierra Nevada has applied resource conservation and reusing/recycling raw materials as guiding operating principles. While Sierra Nevada has grown to over 400 employees with state-of-the-art brewing and processing equipment, Ken continues to operate the brewery in as ecologically clean and efficient a manner as possible.
There are few companies that equal Sierra Nevada in their ongoing, long-term effort to take action on their commitment to a sustainable environment. Virtually every major business decision that is made in the company includes an assessment or discussion of the potential environmental impact and the proactive mitigation measures that can be taken to minimize or eliminate any adverse effects.
Fuel Cell Co-generation
Sierra Nevada’s commitment to energy efficiency and reducing the company’s environmental impact led them to many alternatives for their energy needs. One of the cutting-edge new technologies they chose to embrace is the fuel cell. In 2006, they completed one of the largest fuel cell co-generation installations in the United States that consists of four 250-kilowatt co-generation fuel cell power units used to supply electric power and heat to the brewery. The one megawatt of power output produces most of the brewery’s electrical demand. The overall energy efficiency of the installation is double that of grid-supplied power and air emissions are significantly reduced. Surplus electrical energy is being sold back into the power grid.
Recycling
Reducing consumption and reusing and recycling raw materials is a basic component of the company’s operations. Office paper, cardboard, glass, stretch wrap, plastic strapping, construction materials, pallets, and hop burlap are just some of the many materials recycled at the brewery. In 2005, Sierra Nevada diverted 384,300 pounds of cardboard, 391,370 pounds of glass, 22,360 pounds of office pack/mixed paper, and a significant amount of various other materials. With a full time recycling analyst on staff, the company is working vigorously to reach a 2007 goal of recycling more that 990% of their waste materials.
Heat Recovery
Sierra Nevada was one of the first regional breweries to install a vapor condenser to recover waste steam from the kettle boiling step to preheat process water. They utilize plate heat exchangers throughout the brewing process to recover energy where practical. In 2005, the company completed a modernization of their boiler systems to utilize cutting-edge technology with online oxygen sensors and variable-speed blowers to increase energy efficiency and minimize any air emissions. Additional stack-heat recovery equipment has been installed to extract all the useful heat from the system.
CO2 Recycling
Sierra Nevada uses a system to recover CO2 that is produced by the natural fermentation process. With this system, Sierra Nevada is able to recover and recycle most of this gas for use around the brewery and during the bottle-filling process to assist in dispensing their ales and beers.
Energy Efficiency
Sierra Nevada has retrofitted all fixtures with electronic ballast lights and motion sensors. Air compressors are fitted with ultra-efficient, speed-controlled drives; and they purchased and are using high-efficiency motors and refrigeration systems throughout the brewery.
Water Conservation
Sierra Nevada focuses on minimizing our usage of this precious resource and continually audits the process to minimize wasteful practices. They have been able to reduce their water usage to almost half of the historical value typically used by breweries in this country
Wastewater Purification
Sierra Nevada made the commitment several years ago to treat all production waste- water. They installed a European-designed, two-step anaerobic and aerobic treatment plant that reprocesses and purifies all water produced from brewing operations. The methane generated from the anaerobic digestion of the wastewater contents is used in boiler and electrical generation equipment. Additionally, water used for truck washing is collected and purified through their onsite wastewater purifying facility.
Byproduct Recycling
Most of the brewery’s spent brewing materials find a beneficial secondary use in the local agricultural community. In conjunction with the Agricultural Department at California State University, Chico, Sierra Nevada provides feed for dairy and beef cows through the spent grain, hops, and yeast it has collected. The surplus spent yeast from fermentation is used as a nutritional supplement for cows, and the compost from the cow manure is used as fertilizer for Sierra Nevada’s onsite 3-acre experimental hop field.
Solar Power
In 2007, Sierra Nevada will be completing the installation of a solar power array that will power the wastewater treatment facility, and provide enough additional power, along with fuel cell energy, heat recovery and CO2 recycling to fully operate their facility 24/7 without using energy from outside these internal energy producing resources.
