HISTORY
The R.W. Knudsen Family® brand has demonstrated a deep dedication to environmental stewardship since first bottling organic grape juice in 1961. We are dedicated to operating and supplying our products nationally, while staying committed to our core values, coexisting with the environment and supporting sustainable business by helping to reduce the consumption of natural resources.
COMMITMENT TO ORGANIC
We have been using organic ingredients long before many consumers knew what “organic” meant. We came to organics because of our enduring commitment to reduce the amount of synthetic pesticides and herbicides released into the environment. Our company has served as members of the Organic Trade Association, supporting the organic industry through high standards, since the Association’s inception in 1985. In 1997 we were the first processor in the country to volunteer to become a certified organic processing facility.
About half of our products are made with 95% or greater certified organic ingredients. We support organic agriculture around the world, and as an organic handler, we follow strict handling practices and procedures, including tracking all organic materials from receipt of incoming ingredients to sale of finished products. Our processing facilities are inspected by an independent auditor to verify we are in compliance with the National Organic Program.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
We are dedicated to minimizing our total environmental footprint through significant investments in energy efficiency at our facilities, and by using clean renewable energy sources on site. We have invested millions of dollars in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources at our own facilities, including significant investments in water treatment to capture methane gas, which is then converted to electricity to power our facility. We also capture all the waste heat from our power generation to assist in the pasteurization process of our production lines. The current installation of a 200 Kilowatt Photo Voltaic (Solar Energy) system, in combination with our other on-site power generation, will provide more than 40% of our peak energy needs with renewable sources on site.
INTERESTING ENVIRONMENTAL FACTS
*In 2006 we achieved a remarkable 96% recycling rate for production, meaning only 4% of what comes into our production facility is disposed via landfill.
* Since 1996, our recycling program has diverted over 37,000 tons of trash from local area landfill. The refuse we’ve recycled would have been enough trash to fill up 2,670 trains cars and create a 28-mile long “trash train.” Looked at another way, we have diverted enough 30-foot long, by 10-foot wide, by 6-foot high waste containers from landfill to stack to the top of the Empire State Building more than 35 times!
* We were the first company in the U.S. to contract for certified organic flavors to use in our products, and we continue to push advances in certified organic flavor offerings by demanding organic options of our suppliers.
* For seven consecutive years, we have received acknowledgement from the Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP). WRAP acknowledges California-based businesses for their outstanding efforts to reduce waste and packaging, increase recycling rates, and save energy.
* At peak production, our solar array generates one third of the daytime energy use at the production facility. On rare days that our factory is not in use, the solar array turns our electric meter backwards as the excess energy generated is sent to the power grid offsetting the consumption of traditional, brown energy.