Our Responsibility
OUR VALUES
Sustainability and Animal Welfare
Our commitment to agriculture extends beyond certification requirements to encompass sustainability practices. In Australia, we partner with farmers who ensure animals live as nature intended—raised on pastures with room to roam, proper herd socialization, and access to clean water and feed.
In the USA, at our Swedesboro, NJ facility, we implement energy-saving and recycling initiatives, extending our commitment to sustainability across our supply chain—from farming to processing and packaging.
Through our commitment to sustainable meat production practices, we help our partners:
- Meet growing consumer demand for responsibly sourced products
- Support environmental conservation
- Maintain transparent supply chain practices
- Demonstrate a commitment to animal welfare
- Build trust with environmentally-conscious customers
- Sustainable Meat Production: Quality Through Responsibility
Sustainable meat production requires responsible decisions at each stage of production. At Thomas Foods International USA, this philosophy guides our daily operations, from our family-owned farms in Australia to our processing facility in Swedesboro, New Jersey. As a leading commercial meat supplier, we believe that doing things the right way matters, which is why we combine generations of farming knowledge with modern sustainable practices. This approach not only helps protect our environment but also ensures we can continue providing quality meat products for years to come.
An Integrated Approach to Sustainability
Having control of our supply chain from farm to fork, including our case-ready meat programs, helps us make sustainable choices every step of the way. This direct involvement—from farming to distribution—allows us to minimize waste, optimize resources, and drive continuous improvement.
The overarching strategy that we’ve developed to guide us is called 4Re Sustainability; reduce, replace, regenerate and remove.
Reduce: Focus on efficiency to achieve the same output with fewer inputs
Replace: Use lower impact options, such as lower carbon energy sources, refrigerants and packaging
Regenerate: Nature-based climate solutions sequester carbon and produce a more resilient supply chain
Remove: After exhausting reduction, replacement and regeneration initiatives, we assess carbon removal projects to address the balance of our impacts, such as sequestering greenhouse gases outside of our supply chain
Environmental Innovation
Since 2015, we have exclusively used Forest Stewardship Council-certified shipping boxes. Last year alone, we used nearly 3,000 tons of recycled cardboard boxes.
Waste from our operations is also minimized whenever possible. We achieved 88% waste diverted from landfills in 2023, with a goal to achieve 95% by end of 2025. We regularly look for ways to improve our processes and find new opportunities to operate more sustainably.
Ethical Farming Practices
Sustainable meat starts with good farming. Our farmers prioritize animal welfare, ensuring livestock live as nature intended, grazing on open pastures, with access to clean air and water. We maintain these standards whether it's on our own farms or those of our carefully chosen farming partners.
This is about quality. Healthy and happy animals produce better meat. Our farmers know this firsthand, which is why they're committed to both animal welfare and sustainable practices.
Animal Welfare
The Grass-Fed Advantage
Our grass-fed and free-range programs are central to how we think about sustainable farming. When animals graze naturally on open pastures, it creates a chain of benefits:
Natural grazing patterns support soil health and biodiversity
Pasture-raised animals contribute to natural fertilization cycles
Free-range practices reduce the need for energy-intensive confined feeding operations
Grass-fed animals require fewer additional resources compared to grain-fed alternatives
These benefits are part of a larger environmental picture. When we maintain healthy grazing lands, we're supporting native wildlife, protecting water resources, and helping preserve the natural balance of the ecosystem. It's a farming approach that looks at the long-term health of the land, not just what we can get from it today.
Quality Through Traceability
In today's meat industry, being sustainable includes being able to show exactly how your food gets from the farm to your table. We maintain traceability at every step in our process, which helps us:
- Monitor and maintain sustainable practices at every stage
- Maintain compliance with environmental standards
- Verify animal welfare practices
- Document our sustainability achievements
- Provide partners with confidence in their sourcing decisions
This detailed tracking system maintains transparency and facilitates better decision-making about our operations. When we can see exactly how each step in our process affects quality and sustainability, we can fine-tune our methods, respond quickly to challenges, and consistently deliver on our promises to partners.
Sustainable Facilities
Our Swedesboro facility, designed with efficiency and environmental responsibility in mind, is SQF-certified, acknowledging our achievement of strict standards for food safety and quality.
In Australia, we’re utilizing specialized waste treatment systems to minimize greenhouse gas emissions.
We are leading a project with the Australian Meat Processors Corporation to develop a carbon inventory of the Thomas Foods International USA facilities and supply chain through to the end customer. At the supplier farm level, we’ve implemented a system to enable data collection and tracking of improvements in emissions over time.
We are also trialing climate mitigation initiatives on selected, proactive farms and in collaboration with research organizations. Findings will be shared throughout the industry and encouraged to be adopted amongst our suppliers.
Sustainable Sourcing Makes Good Business Sense
Sustainably sourced meat offers practical benefits:
- Extended shelf-life consistent quality
- Documented environmental sustainability practices
- Reduced environmental impact
- Access to premium products that align with growing consumer demand for sustainable options
We've found that our partners not only meet their environmental goals but see real business growth through working with us. Their consumers appreciate knowing where their meat comes from and how it was raised, which builds loyalty and trust. And because our sustainable practices result in consistently high-quality products, our partners can confidently build their business around our supply.
Supporting Your Sustainable Journey
We work closely with partners to:
- Develop customized programs that align with sustainability goals.
- Provide documentation supporting environmental initiatives.
- Offer expertise in sustainable meat sourcing and processing.
- Deliver products that meet both quality and sustainability standards.
Through these collaborative partnerships, we help our clients achieve their sustainability objectives while maintaining the highest product quality. We understand that each partner has unique needs and challenges, which is why we focus on building lasting relationships. When you work with us, you're getting a partner who's invested in your success and committed to helping you meet both your sustainability goals and your business objectives.
From Commitment to Action
Our integrated approach to sustainable meat production represents more than environmental responsibility—it's a commitment to quality and partner success. Through innovation and responsible practices, we're setting new standards for sustainable meat production while delivering premium products.
From our global network of farms to our local service teams, we deliver sustainable quality from paddock to plate. Contact our sales team today to discuss your specific needs and discover how our sustainable meat solutions can work for you.
Food Safety
We are commited to the highest standards of health and safety.
Health and safety are vital parts of quality assurance. Our strict quality assurance standards are met throughout the entire food production process to maintain the quality and shelf life of our end products. Our products pass the strictest, most stringent safety and hygiene standards set anywhere in the world.
