BRAMPTON, ON, Dec. 18, 2020 /CNW/ - Today, Loblaw Companies
Limited (TSX: L) ("Loblaw") announced its purchase of one million
pounds of beef from CRSB Certified farms and ranches. As the first
Canadian retailer to do so, Loblaw is reaffirming its commitment to
sustainable sourcing and the Canadian beef industry.
Loblaw was a founding member of the Canadian Roundtable for
Sustainable Beef (CRSB), and has been a key contributor in
developing standards to measure, set strategic goals and recognize
sustainable practices that also rewards Canadian beef producers for
their on-going sustainability efforts at the farm level. The beef
purchased was raised on Certified Sustainable farms and ranches
that meet the sustainability standards set by the CRSB, and sourced
using a mass balance system, whereby the beef sourced as CRSB
Certified will be incorporated into Loblaw's overall beef
purchases.
"This is one of the many investments we have and will continue
to make as we advance our commitments to a local and sustainable
food future," says Tonya Lagrasta,
Senior Director, Corporate Social Responsibility at Loblaw.
"Supporting solutions in Canada
that contribute to the protection and preservation of nature and
our shared biodiversity are critical and we are committed to
engaging at all levels of the supply chain to drive greater
transparency, traceability and sustainability."
Already a global leader in sustainable beef production, lands
used for Canadian beef production represent 44 million acres of
grassland which store approximately 1.5 billion tonnes of carbon in
Canada. The beef industry provides the largest proportion of
wildlife habitat capacity within the agricultural landscape - 68%
on only 1/3 of Canada's
agricultural land.1
"CRSB is excited to see a large grocery retailer like Loblaw,
committed to working collaboratively with the beef industry, show
their support for the sustainable practices in beef production, and
sharing that story with Canadian consumers," says Anne Wasko, Chair of the CRSB and rancher from
Eastend SK. "Now more than ever, people are keen to know more
about how their food is raised, and as a rancher myself, we
appreciate the dedication of our partners in sharing the positive
impact of Canadian beef as part of a sustainable food system."
Learn more about CRSB sustainability certification, and meet
some of their certified ranchers at crsbcertified.ca. For more
information about Loblaw's sustainability efforts visit
loblaw.ca/responsibility
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1 Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable
Beef (CRSB). (2016). National Beef Sustainability Assessment and
Strategy summary report. Calgary, AB: CRSB.
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ABOUT THE CRSB
Established in 2014, the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable
Beef (CRSB) is a collaborative, multi-stakeholder initiative
focused on advancing environmental, social and economic
sustainability in the Canadian beef industry. The CRSB drives
recognition and continuous progress in beef sustainability through
benchmarking, setting strategic goals, and communicating
on-the-ground continuous improvement. Launched in 2017, CRSB's
Certified Sustainable Beef Framework was developed as a tool
to recognize sustainable practices through 3rd party
certification, support sustainable commitments for the retail and
foodservice industry, and build consumer trust through credible,
science-based claims about sustainable beef production in
Canada. Learn more at crsb.ca.
ABOUT LOBLAW COMPANIES LIMITED
Loblaw Companies Limited is the nation's largest retailer,
providing Canadians with grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty,
apparel, general merchandise, financial services, and wireless
mobile products and services. Loblaw's purpose – Live Life Well® –
promotes the needs and wellbeing of Canadians, who make one billion
transactions annually in the company's stores. With more than 2,400
corporate, franchised and associate-owned locations, Loblaw, its
franchisees, and associate-owners employ almost 200,000 full- and
part-time employees, making it one of Canada's largest private sector employers.
SOURCE Loblaw Companies Limited