McCormick & Company, the Maryland-based manufacturer of cooking spices and other food products, was recently presented with a prestigious sustainability award for operating its mega-distribution center with “net zero” energy usage.
The company’s 363,000-square-foot warehouse in Belcamp, Maryland, actually generates more electricity than it uses by means of a 1.8-megawatt rooftop solar power system, as well as by a series of energy conservation measures.
Leading in Sustainability
McCormick’s efforts to improve sustainability serves as an example for other businesses, according to the OpX Leadership Network, which awarded the company its first place prize in the projects category of the second annual Sustainability Excellence in Manufacturing Awards.
The spice company converted its giant DC to solar energy in 2012 with the help of Constellation Energy, a business unit of Exelon, according to Jeff Blankman, McCormick’s sustainable manufacturing manager. the energy company built, owns and operates the solar power system at the McCormick facility, as well a smaller one at McCormick’s company headquarters in nearby Sparks, Maryland.
Solar Power Buy-Back Deal
The spice company has a 20-year deal with Constellation to purchases the power generated by the solar panels on its roof at rates below current market rates.
“During a five-year period, we were able to reduce electricity use at Belcamp by 55 percent through energy-efficient interior and exterior lighting, occupancy sensors, HVAC upgrades, and energy efficient pallet conveyors,” Blankman said in a news release. “With the addition of hosting solar power, the facility generated a surplus of more than 16,000-kilowatt hours of electricity in a one-year period. McCormick’s Belcamp distribution center reinforces that net-zero energy use is achievable and affordable for large commercial buildings.”
Other Award Winners Announced
The award was announced during the 2016 Food Automation & Manufacturing Conference and Expo held last month in Fort Myers, Florida. Second place in the projects category went to Smithfield Foods for its water reuse program., and third went to Snyder’s-Lance, Inc. for its wastewater and clean discharge program.
Third place was a tie between Snyder’s-Lance, Inc. for its wastewater and clean discharge program, and Sunny Delight Beverages Co. for its power quality and conservation project.
In the programs category, the first place prize went to Olam Spices and Vegetable Ingredients, of Shanghai, China, for its water use reduction in tomato procession.
Second place went to Musco Family Olive Co. for its ethical sourcing of products. Third place in the programs category also was a tie between Big Heart Pet Brands for its community engagement, and Sunny Delight for reducing its packaging materials.
Future Sustainability
The purpose of the awards is to bring attention to companies that are doing a great job in developing innovative sustainability projects, according to Steve Schlegel, co-managing director of the OpX Leadership Network.
“Their pursuits of sustainable manufacturing goals are inspiring and we look forward to seeing further improvements to sustainability in food, beverage, and consumer products operations next year,” Schlegel said in a news release announcing the awards.