Duck: Sustainable, Nutritious & Delicious

In an effort to eat more sustainably, consumers want to understand how farmers and food companies are protecting the environment and conserving natural resources all why working to produce safe, nutritious food.

And while it’s easy to explain how duck fits in a healthy diet or how its flavor and versatility makes a delicious addition to any menu, it’s a little more challenging to explain how duck can help you meet your sustainable goals.

As a fourth-generation family business, Maple Leaf Farms can relate to consumer concerns about sustainability. Through our sustainability team and Trident Stewardship Program we invest in programs and systems to improve our operations that are ethically grounded, scientifically verified and economically viable.

Our Farm to Fork practices are designed with sustainability in mind. We work with more than 150 local families who grow and care for our ducks on their farms. The ducks are raised in open barns where they can roam about, but can be protected from the elements, predators and disease-carrying animals like wild birds and rodents.

In fact, Maple Leaf Farms feed is manufactured at our own feed mill and the corn and soy that is used to make the feed is sustainably sourced and purchased locally. These farm-to-fork practices help us with the traceability of our ducks and ingredients.

In addition, each year our corporate sustainability team monitors sustainability metrics and implements impactful projects to help our operations reduce our environmental impact and improve our resource management. Some of our sustainable highlights include:

Recycling and reducing waste.

By working with our suppliers to use recycled materials in packaging and sending recyclable materials back to our suppliers in 2021, we were able to recycle 151 metric tons of mixed plastic, mixed paper and corrugated containers. These activities allowed us to have 27% of waste diverted from landfill, incineration and the environment.

Reducing CO2 emissions.

Through our recycling efforts, we reduced our CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) emissions in 2021 by 856 metric tons.

Improving energy efficiency.

In 2021, we invested in energy-efficient LED lighting systems that reduced our annual consumption of energy by 10,000 kilowatt-hours. This resulted in a total of 8.9 metric tons of emissions avoided.

To build consumer trust and confidence in Maple Leaf Farms duck products, we share information about our Farm to Fork practices and sustainability efforts. For more information on Maple Leaf Farms commitment to sustainability, follow us on our social channels.