General Mills backslid in fiscal 2025 from its goal of reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions within its supply chain 30% by 2030.
The food maker’s 2026 Global Responsibility Report, released April 15, shows the company reduced total emissions 14% across the value chain, compared to 19% in fiscal 2024. Both figures are measured against the company’s 2020 baseline for emissions.
General Mills did not respond to a request for comment about the reversal in emissions reduction percentage; however, the company’s latest report says operational greenhouse gas emissions increased 3% year over year due to the addition of electricity usage at an acquired production facility.
The backslide comes as companies in the consumer packaged goods sector face increasing pressure from activist groups and shareholders to reduce their carbon footprint. For General Mills, suppliers account for two-thirds of its enterprise greenhouse gas emissions, making their cooperation critical in helping the company reach its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
Along with cutting emissions less than the prior year, General Mills’ plants used more water per ton of finished product, and meeting animal welfare standards remained a challenge for the company’s broiler chicken volumes.
On the positive side, all of General Mills’ manufacturing facilities reached zero-waste-to-landfill status and 95% of packaging was designed to be recyclable or reusable last year.
Here is a breakdown of General Mills’ progress on its efforts to make its supply chain more sustainable:
Zero waste, higher water use
In fiscal 2025, all 37 of General Mills’ production facilities met the criteria for zero-waste-to-landfill status, meaning the elimination of sending waste to landfills or incineration without energy recovery, according to the report.
During the year, the company recycled 90% of solid waste globally, up from 88% the year before. Meanwhile, 8% was processed for energy recovery and 2% was disposed of, compared with 5% and 7% the year before, respectively.
A few of the company’s production facilities disposed of waste early in the fiscal year, "but solutions were put in place and these facilities achieved and sustained zero-waste-to-landfill status during the remainder of the fiscal year," the report says.
However, the production facilities' overall rate of gallons of water used per ton of finished product was higher in fiscal 2025 than in the prior year, per the report. Improvements in water usage were offset by unfavorable product mixes and volume changes.
Production facilities account for about 2% of the company's water footprint, the report notes.
Lower carbon footprint for key supplies
Around 22% of General Mills' ingredient- and packaging-derived emissions last year came from the production of materials linked to deforestation risk, specifically palm oil, cocoa and fiber packaging made from pulp and paper, the report says. These emissions result largely from land use change.
By the end of calendar year 2024, General Mills reduced ingredient-derived emissions from these materials by purchasing deforestation-free volumes for 96.8% of palm oil, 88% of cocoa and chocolate, and 99.6% of fiber packaging, according to the report.
Recyclability in packaging improves
Last year, General Mills inched closer to reaching its goal of having 100% recyclable or reusable packaging by 2030. Per the report, 95% of the company's overall packaging was designed to be recyclable or reusable, compared to 93% in fiscal 2024.
To achieve this, General Mills is focusing its recycling efforts on switching to mono polyethylene plastic packaging, which is recyclable in the U.S. through retailer drop-off programs, per the report. A large portion of that type of plastic is used to make composite decking.
The company's packaging, by weight, is 9% plastic, or 96 million pounds, the report notes. The rest of the company’s packaging materials are 76% fiber, 9% steel, 3% composite cans, 2% glass and 1% aluminum.
Animal welfare sourcing lags
Only 4% of General Mills' broiler chicken volume complied with Global Animal Partnership standards by the end of fiscal 2025, the report says. GAP is an organization that runs certification and labeling programs to improve the treatment and living conditions of animals raised for food.
"Changes as broad and complicated as these require industry alignment and partnership to succeed," the report says, referring to its efforts to meet GAP standards. "We will continue to assess supplier progress in this area."
Eighty-four percent of global egg purchases for General Mills ice cream, baked goods and doughs came from cage-free or free-range hens, per the report. The company said cost and availability prevented it from reaching its target of 100%.
"Challenges in supply and availability are ongoing; our progress is dependent on our suppliers’ ability to source cage-free or free-range eggs," the report says.
