Hill’s celebrates sustainability, employee wellbeing achievements

OVERLAND PARK, KAN.
— Hill’s Pet Nutrition, a division of Colgate-Palmolive, announced three achievements, demonstrating the company’s commitment toward sustainability and employee wellbeing.
It received Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC) Accreditation for showing measurable progress in environmental and social responsibility.
In addition, its new global and US headquarters in Overland Park achieved LEED Gold® and WELL Certified™ Platinum certifications.

PSC Accreditation is based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a framework used to help businesses improve environmental and social practices.
The Accreditation process involves an evaluation and verification of the company’s sustainability initiatives, policies and impact.

“Achieving Accreditation with the Pet Sustainability Coalition marks a significant milestone, both for Hill’s and for PSC,” said Jim Lamancusa, executive director of PSC. “The Accreditation program’s roots are in innovative and entrepreneurial businesses that have led the industry in sustainable practices.
I’m excited about this development because major change in the pet industry will accelerate when large businesses with scale join a public commitment to continuous improvement.
Hill’s Accreditation sets a powerful example, showing that sustainability is not just a trend, but a vital part of our industry’s future.”

Hill’s exceeded the scores required on the Sustainable Development Goals Baseline with an SDG 8 score in the Decent Work and Economic Growth category and an SDG 12 score for Responsible Consumption and Production.

“At the heart of our purpose lies our dedication to reimagining a healthier future for all people, their pets and our planet,” said John Hazlin, president and chief executive officer of Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
“This dedication is fundamental to our business strategy.
Being the largest pet food manufacturer to date to achieve the PSC accreditation is proof of the many proactive actions we’ve taken but also cements our belief that sustainability and social impact efforts are essential to our continued growth.”

Hill’s accomplishments in sustainable business practices include:

• Dedicated sustainability action team: The team meets regularly and drives progress toward ingredient transparency, responsible sourcing and greater sustainability for all aspects of the business.
  The team comprises of animal welfare specialists, sustainability leaders and other functional experts.
• Investment in alternative proteins: Hill’s continues to explore more sustainable ingredient solutions for pet nutrition, which is demonstrated through its partnership with Bond Pet Foods, a biotechnology company using fermentation technology to create animal-free protein ingredients.
• Ingredient sourcing: Hill’s is focused on responsibly sourcing ingredients, ensuring traceability and certification from organizations like the Marine Stewardship Council, Marine Trust and Friends of the Sea.
  Last year, Hill’s Pet Nutrition introduced a new formula for its popular Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin line, which included sustainably sourced MSC-Certified Pollock in dog and cat recipes and innovative insect protein in dog recipes.
• Environmental impact: Hill’s works to minimize its environmental footprint by reducing water usage, energy consumption and waste throughout its manufacturing processes.
  Hill’s newest plant in Tonganoxie, Kan., is LEED Gold certified and features a water reclamation system that reduces overall water usage by treating and recycling wastewater on site to be repurposed for future use.
• Packaging innovation: Hill’s explores innovative packaging solutions using more sustainable materials and optimizing designs for eco-friendliness.
  Recently, the Flexible Packaging Association awarded a Gold Award for Sustainability in the 2024 Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards to a new flexible packaging design containing certified circular plastic by Berry Global, Inc.
  and Peel Plastic Products Ltd.
  for Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
  In addition, Hill’s has been using recyclable corrugated boxes made with 65% recycled content worldwide since the end of 2019 and 70% of global Hill's packaging by weight has been recyclable since 2019.
• Relationships between pets and people: Since 2002, Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love program has provided more than $300 million in pet food donations to more than 1,000 pet shelters and helped more than 14 million pets find new homes across North America.

In addition to PSC Accreditation, Hill’s new custom designed headquarters in Overland Park achieved LEED Gold® and WELL Certified™ Platinum certifications.
According to the company, the building is the first in the state of Kansas to receive WELL Certification, as well as being among the first companies to certify a space under the streamlined pathway by the US Green Building Council® and the International WELL Building Institute™.

“It was important to us that our new Hill’s headquarters office provide an inspiring and inclusive working environment for our people and their pets,” Hazlin said.
“Integrating the LEED and WELL systems in tandem demonstrates that care for the environment and care for the health and wellbeing of our people go hand in hand, and we are incredibly proud to have achieved the dual certifications.”

Perspective Architecture + Design, McCownGordon Construction, and The Greenwood Consulting Group led the design project for the new facility.
The new features include:

• Biophilic design, including vibrant plant walls
• State-of-the-art ventilation and filtration systems for indoor air quality
• Ergonomic and acoustic design to support employee comfort
• Real-time monitoring sensors to ensure optimal temperature settings
• Low-flow faucets and fixtures to increase indoor water efficiency
• Ample access to daylight and circadian-appropriate lighting
• Access to healthy meals, snacks and filtered drinking water
• Wellness room, fitness center and indoor game room
• Open floor plan with ample space for collaboration and connection
• Low/no emissions finishes and materials for employee and environmental health

The site also includes dedicated indoor and outdoor play spaces for pets to enjoy as part of Hill’s dog-friendly office policy.
The company plans to pursue TRUE Zero Waste certification for the site by 2025.

Read more about sustainability efforts across the pet food and treat industry.