Environmental Sustainability:
Efficient Use of Energy

Ralcorp is working hard to reduce our impact on the environment, starting with our use of energy.  
In fiscal year 2008-2009, we began a corporate initiative to gain a better understanding of the way we were using energy and how we could use it more efficiently. Ralcorp contracted a third-party energy consultant and utilities management provider to help us optimize our use of energy. Using a phased approach, we piloted a series of energy audits in approximately one-third of our manufacturing facilities*. Through this process, we educated employees, especially those in our manufacturing facilities, on how to audit energy use and initiate energy projects that reduce usage and carbon output. Learning outcomes from these pilot audits were cascaded to other employees within the Ralcorp manufacturing network for the benefit of additional locations.

Our manufacturing facilities initiate energy optimization projects each year, and many were initiated in conjunction with these energy audits. The projects have focused on maintaining high productivity while minimizing environmental impact. A few examples of these projects include:

• Retrofitting and upgrading to more efficient lighting systems;
• Retrofitting and replacing inefficient equipment; and
• Modifying our use of compressed air.

All of Ralcorp’s divisions have completed or are continuing their upgrades to more energy efficient lighting systems and equipment. Upgrades have included conversions from less-efficient lighting to T5 or T8 fixtures, which increase light levels while decreasing kilowatt usage. We have also installed motion-sensored lighting to help conserve energy in many offices and non-production areas at our manufacturing facilities.

Ralcorp has also taken steps to improve the use of energy in our manufacturing processes. Installing higher efficiency equipment such as equipment motors, boilers, and refrigeration units, has reduced the amount of energy required to run this equipment. We are also reducing unnecessary energy use across the Ralcorp supply chain by upgrading many of our compressed air systems, repairing air leaks, lowering air pressure, and replacing the use of compressed air with the use of high vortex blowers where possible.