From Our Roots:
Kalsec® Social Responsibility

As a leader in social responsibility since our founding in 1958, we focus on building trust, honesty, integrity and fairness in everything that we do. At Kalsec we are pursuing an ideal that can never be completely realized – there is always room for improvement and we recognize that it is a continuous journey.

We want to share our story and progress towards eight of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). The most significant effort in 2017 was progress towards targets within UNSDG 2 and 12:

2 ZERO HUNGER.
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture (2.4)

12 RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION.
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns (12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.8)

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Products and Solutions

Helping our customer’s products look better, taste better and last longer is at the heart of everything we do. We ensure our line of innovative products and solutions are of the highest quality and meet the challenges faced by food and beverage manufacturers around the world.

Responsible Sourcing

Safe Quality Food Institute
Safe Quality Food (SQF) Institute certified since 2015

 

 

 

Increase in productivity per acre for rosemary in 2017 compared to 2015

 

1st to develop expeller press process to extract spices and herbs

 

 

 

Samples per year proactively analyzed for pesticides

Protecting Our Planet

Our business depends on access to energy and natural resources like water and land. As a global citizen, we strive to respect and nurture the environment and communities from which we derive our livelihoods.


We recycle our cooling water back to the ground through a series of recharge ponds. We capture and recharge all our site storm water through these ponds and other containment structures. The ponds provide a riparian habitat for wildlife.

Kalsec Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2017

 

 

Reduction in energy costs at Texas facility by replacing LED lighting

75%

Reduction in hazardous air pollutants per kilogram of products shipped

Kalsec maintains a 15-acre arboretum

 

 

Reduction in cooling water consumption per pound of shipped finished product

3,000

Of spent spice material composted annually

58% of waste material recycled in 2017

We have solar arrays at two locations with a third location under construction. This project will include eight electric vehicle charging stations.

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Investing in People and Workplace

The work we do is only possible because of the tireless efforts of our dedicated employees around the world. We celebrate a culture driven by creativity, research and innovation, while respecting our employee’s desire for stability and a strong work/life balance.

U.S. Incident Rate

Kalsec average rate of 3.1, compared to the U.S. food manufacturing industry standard of 4.6

 

 

Increased undergraduate tuition assistance per U.S. employee

 

 

Increased graduate tuition assistance per U.S. employee

79% of employees completed company paid annual physicals

ON-SITE CHILD CARE FOR EMPLOYEES
“It made balancing adoption with work less of a huge deal because I know he is safe and enjoys going to the Farmhouse.”
– Jill, Kalsec employee
Kalsec Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2017

“I am proud to be a woman on the executive leadership team. Diversity is a core value for Kalsec and we have so many talented women in leadership roles. I cannot wait to see how they will continue to influence Kalsec’s culture of creativity.”

– Julie, EVP of Sales    

 

Strengthening Communities

We are committed to strengthening the communities where we live and work through employee-driven activities and fundraising programs, while fostering a strong relationship with our neighbors.

Kalsec has educational programs for interns in a variety of roles, including: our 24th year sponsoring EARTH University interns, lab internships, and an apprenticeship program.

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We support charities, including United Way, Meals on Wheels, families in need through the holidays and employee donation matching programs.

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Kalsec has supported the Kalamazoo Nature Center for several decades through sponsorship of events and participation on the Board of Directors.

Kalsec Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2017

Kalsec Center for Sustainable Brewing Education

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Operating Ethically

We believe in conducting business ethically and with integrity in each of the communities we serve. This is part of who we are and is how we have always operated. It is essential that we effectively manage and maintain the strong relationship between the board, officers and the family.

Through SEDEX we publish ethical data and conduct SMETA audits.
Kalsec Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2017

Please click to read our Ethics Policy and our Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement

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Download the full
2017 Kalsec Social Responsibility Report

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