Sysco partners with Penn State on sustainable supply chain solutions

Global foodservice distribution company Sysco Corporation announced Wednesday it would partner with Penn State University and Arizona State University to develop innovations in packaging and food waste.

The company said its “Recipe for Sustainability” program would collaborate with the universities to provide students with the opportunity to solve real-world challenges through innovative, cost-effective solutions that can lead the distribution industry to a more sustainable future.

“Sysco is proud to partner with leading universities to help develop the next generation of sustainability leaders,” Neil Russell, Sysco’s SVP Corporate Affairs and Interim Chief Financial Officer, said. “We’re eager to see the bright ideas generated through these partnerships that will help address sustainability challenges faced by our industry and ultimately reduce our impact on the planet.”

In 2021, Sysco said its goal was to reduce its direct emissions by 27.5 percent by 2030. Additionally, the company committed to engaging its supplier partners to set their own science-based emission reduction targets by 2026.

“The climate crisis is too big for any one company to tackle alone. By collaborating with our customers, our supplier partners, and other innovators such as ASU and Penn State, we can drive real change across our industry,” Neil said.

Sysco operates more than 330 distribution facilities worldwide and serves more than 700,000 customer locations. In fiscal year 2022, the 71,000-employee company generated more than $68 billion in sales.