Month: April 2023

For the second year in a row, firefighters from Marathon Petroleum’s Los Angeles refinery took part in the Fight For Air Climb at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.In its 16th year, the unique event which challenges participants to climb hundreds of stairs in the coliseum to raise money and awareness for the American Lung Association.The proceeds raised support lung disease research, educational programs and advocacy efforts.

Firefighters from Marathon Petroleum’s Los Angeles refinery returned to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum this year to take part in a unique climbing event, Fight For Air Climb, that challenges people to take the stairs at iconic venues.

In February, members of the refinery’s fire department took part in the 16th annual event along with hundreds of other participants to raise money and awareness for the American Lung Association’s mission to end lung diseases, including COVID-19.

“It was an honor to take part in an event like this to not only raise money, but also awareness for those suffering from lung disease,” said Mike Martinez Sr., who along with his son, Mike Martinez Jr., both firefighters at the Los Angeles refinery, climbed the coliseum stairs for a second year in a row. 

“There’s something about that feeling when you reach the top, knowing that’s how someone battling lung disease might feel like every day.”

For this father-son duo, the climb is personal. “Lung cancer took my father in 2016,” said Martinez Sr. “Participating helps me carry on his legacy, with my son climbing alongside to remember his grandfather.”

The Martinezes were joined by first-time participants from Marathon Charlie Vanisi, Brian Santos, Esteban Esqueda and Michelle Lee, all of whom completed the 2,500-step climb. Some of them did it in their full firefighter gear.

“There’s something about that feeling when you reach the top, knowing that’s how someone battling lung disease might feel like every day,” said Lee. “Individually, I can only do so much monetarily but having the support of our company made the climb’s purpose that much more worth it.”

For a second year in a row, the Los Angeles refinery made a $3,000 donation to the cause as a sponsor of the event.

The Los Angeles refinery fire department, which has 150 firefighters, is not only trained to respond to a potential emergency event at the facility, but they also provide training and assistance to local fire departments.

Segment Snapshot

QSR/FOODSERVICE:

Operators are leaning heavily into hot honey flavors, especially paired with chicken, to create craveable offerings. Honey is also used a better-for-you flavor enhancer for dessert items.

PROTEIN PROCESSORS:

Honey is the ideal ingredient for balancing savory and spicy flavors, especially when used in sauces that are paired with proteins. In that context, honey is occasionally used to replace refined sugars, so highlighting the health halo that honey can add to products is key.

SNACKING:

CPG brands are also leveraging honey as a refined sugar replacement, creating more naturally sweetened offerings. Brands are also highlighting honey’s origin, varietal, bee-friendly farming techniques and even bee-free offerings to create more eco-friendly honey products.

A Touch of Sweetness

The versatility of honey to pair with other ingredients makes it a true back-of-house staple. Chef Jaime Mestan is showcasing honey as both a brine for tea-smoked duck breast as well as the base of a honey-lemongrass finishing sauce in our latest video.

Consumption of honey is at an all-time high. Used to add nuanced sweetness to everything from salad dressings to cocktails to potato chips, honey is one of the world’s most versatile ingredients. And with more than 300 varietals in the US alone (National Honey Board, 2022), there’s a unique type of honey for every product and menu application.

So, why the buzz? To answer this question, let’s look at honey’s health halo. A whopping 38% of global consumers say they are actively trying to reduce their sugar consumption (GlobalData, 2022) and many consider honey to be more desirable than refined sugar. Product manufacturers are certainly taking note. Snack and energy bars across North America, South America and the Middle East are touting simple ingredient labels with no refined sugars or additives, thanks to the naturally sweet power of honey (Mintel, 2023). Even candy companies are pairing honey with ingredients such as fair-trade dark chocolate, roasted almonds and orange (Candy Industry, 2021) to create products that align with the “permissible indulgence” trend.

Moving from sweet to savory and spicy, honey is one of the most popular flavors paired with protein. Honey garlic, honey barbecue, honey sriracha and honey chipotle are just some of the sauces, glazes and marinades enlivening wings, chicken sandwiches, plant-based sausages and meal kits. Across China, Thailand and Japan, honey plays a major role in adding flavor to chicken and pork products, but it’s often paired with ingredients such as yuzu, fingerroot ginger and miso to add depth of flavor. The hot honey trend, which was prevalent in Brazilian pizzerias before making its way across the globe (Mintel, 2023), continues to play on consumers’ love of flavor mashups.

But we can’t talk about honey without talking about sustainability. On retail shelves from India to South Africa, honey brands are providing on-pack claims to highlight their products’ origin, bee health, hive management and more. The bigger issue of protecting pollinators (not just honeybees) is also at play in the food industry. For example, the US-based Bee Better Certified seal designates use of ingredients that have been harvested with pollinator-friendly conservation practices (USDA, 2021). An even more sustainable option is being explored in the world of food technology, as lab-grown honey is being developed to address the growing demand for honey in an eco-friendly way.

Create And Innovate

Brown Butter Hot Honey Scallops

Playing up sweet and heat is a great way to add signature appeal to perfectly seared scallops, dressed with a spicy garlic and honey glaze. Brown butter sauce infused with honey, apple cider vinegar, chile de arbol and ancho chiles truly sets this dish apart.

Featuring Griffith Foods Spicy Garlic Honey Glaze

LOOKING TO BRIGHTEN UP YOUR OFFERINGS WITH HONEY?

Between its versatile usage, appealing flavor and healthy halo, honey is having its moment in the spotlight. Products from Griffith Foods and Custom Culinary® featuring this powerhouse ingredient can help you capitalize on demand for alternative sweeteners as well as the sweet-and-spicy/sweet-and-savory flavor trends.

Seasonings

From glazes to dry rubs, our unique seasonings enhance flavor, appearance and aromatics of finished dishes thanks to the sweet appeal of honey.

Honey and Black Garlic Brine/CureBrown Butter, Honey and Sage RubSpicy Miso and Honey Dry Glaze

Sauces and Dressings

Always crafted with a chef-driven approach, our sauces and condiments use honey to complement hot, tangy and smoky ingredients.

Nashville Hot Honey Flavor GlazeCreole Mustard and Honey DressingSpiced Honey and Bacon Jam

Textures and Coatings/Dough Blends

Our value-added coating systems, mixes and batters are optimized for taste, texture and performance—bringing a light sweetness to breakfast items, fried chicken and more.

Gingerbread Waffle and Pancake MixAncho Chile and Honey Pre-DustHoney, Sesame and Mirin Pre-Dust for Tempura Batter

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL:

Contact your Griffith Foods representative to learn how these exciting, versatile products can enhance your product and menu offerings with the sweet touch of honey.

Chef Tip: “Spice-infused honey adds the perfect finishing touch to any savory dish. Simmer warm spices together with honey, considering such combinations as ginger and lavender, cumin and black pepper or black cardamom and star anise.”

–Chef Mark Serice, Vice President Global Culinary, Griffith Foods

Looking Forward: What’s next for the honey category?

SUSTAINABILITY:

As brands start to explore more sustainable practices that acknowledge the environmental impact of honey production, bee-friendly farming techniques and even bee-free honey will continue to grow.

A NATURAL ALTERNATIVE:

Brands are starting to communicate the benefits of honey not just as a flavor enhancer but as a refined sugar replacement. As consumers increasingly look for reduced or natural sugar options, honey will play an even more important role in new product launches, including snacks and sauces.

THE HEAT IS ON:

Hot honey is commonly used in foodservice innovation, presenting an opportunity to explore more nuanced spicy honey flavors with specific chile flavor callouts. Other up-and-coming flavor pairings will include truffle, citrus, ginger and more.

© 2023 Griffith Foods. All rights reserved.

Sources:
Christopher Doering, “US honey consumption soars to all-time high amid better-for-you trend,” Food Dive, August 18, 2022.
GlobalData, “Mapping the Strategic Direction of Foodservice,” March 3, 2022.
“Hey there, honey: 6 new candies made with honey entice consumers,” Candy Industry, October 13, 2021.
“Honey Varietals,” National Honey Board, accessed December 2022.
Jocelyn Benjamin, “Bee Better Certification Program is Buzzing on U.S. Farms, Local Grocers,” USDA, July 29, 2021.
Mintel, 2023 FlavorIQ® Food and Flavor Outlook Report, January 2023.

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HOUSTON and ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, April 25, 2023 /3BL Media/ – LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) today published its annual sustainability report titled, Unlocking Possibilities. The publication offers an in-depth review of the company’s 2022 sustainability performance, focused on progress toward ending plastic waste in the environment, taking climate action and supporting a thriving society. Highlights include:

Ramping up circular and low carbon solutions through initiatives including growing the company’s plastics recycling footprint globally to meet customer demand for more sustainable products and solutions.Accelerating interim greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets for 2030, in line with science-based guidance and the Paris Agreement, by increasing scope 1 and 2 emissions reduction target to 42% and establishing a scope 3 emissions reduction target of 30%, relative to a 2020 baseline.Contributing to a thriving society, including focusing on safety, advancing commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion, and continuing to contribute to and engage with the communities in which the company operates.

“The need to address climate and circularity has never been greater, and during my first year with LyondellBasell, we took decisive action to advance our sustainability goals and accelerate progress on existing commitments. We see opportunities to capture value from our actions and we are primed to unlock possibilities toward a more sustainable, low carbon future,” said Peter Vanacker, CEO of LyondellBasell.

In 2022, the company reported sustainability highlights including:

Announcing four new plastic waste recycling projects and ventures to grow its mechanical recycling footprint and increase access to feedstock through advanced sorting.Producing and marketing more than 175,000 metric tons of recycled and renewable-based polymers since 2019 under its Circulen brand. The result marks progress toward the company’s commitment to produce and market at least 2 million metric tons of recycled and renewable-based polymers annually by 2030.Signing renewable electricity power purchase agreements (PPAs) in the U.S. and Europe, achieving more than 50% of our target to procure at least half of our electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Agreements signed this year have now taken us to 70% of our target.Completing more than 17,000 training hours on diversity, equity and inclusion. Additionally, 40% of the CEOs direct reports are women.Achieving a record low total recordable injury rate (TRIR) of 0.12, a top-decile result within the petrochemical manufacturing sector.Recording five million safe work hours at four sites and one million safe work hours at 21 sites.

“We are committed to providing transparency and demonstrating how we are making an impact as a leader in the chemicals industry,” said Vanacker.

For more information, read the 2022 LyondellBasell Unlocking Possibilities sustainability report here.

About LyondellBasell  
We are LyondellBasell – a leader in the global chemical industry creating solutions for everyday sustainable living. Through advanced technology and focused investments, we are enabling a circular and low carbon economy. Across all we do, we aim to unlock value for our customers, investors and society. As one of the world’s largest producers of polymers and a leader in polyolefin technologies, we develop, manufacture and market high-quality and innovative products for applications ranging from sustainable transportation and food safety to clean water and quality healthcare. For more information, please visit www.lyondellbasell.com or follow @LyondellBasell on LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements 
The statements in this release relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially based on factors including, but not limited to, market conditions, the business cyclicality of the chemical, polymers and refining industries; the availability, cost and price volatility of raw materials and utilities, particularly the cost of oil, natural gas, and associated natural gas liquids; our ability to successfully implement initiatives identified pursuant to our value enhancement program and generate anticipated earnings; competitive product and pricing pressures; labor conditions; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; operating interruptions (including leaks, explosions, fires, weather-related incidents, mechanical failure, unscheduled downtime, supplier disruptions, labor shortages, strikes, work stoppages or other labor difficulties, transportation interruptions, spills and releases and other environmental risks); the supply/demand balances for our and our joint ventures’ products, and the related effects of industry production capacities and operating rates; our ability to manage costs; future financial and operating results; our ability to recognize the benefits and synergies of any proposed transactions; legal and environmental proceedings; tax rulings, consequences or proceedings; technological developments, and our ability to develop new products and process technologies; our ability to meet our sustainability goals, including the ability to operate safely, increase production of recycled and renewable-based polymers to meet our targets and forecasts, and reduce our emissions and achieve net zero emissions by the time set in our goals; our ability to procure energy from renewable sources; our ability to hire and retain diverse employees and engage with the communities in which we operate; the successful shut down and closure of the Houston Refinery, including within the expected timeframe; potential governmental regulatory actions; political unrest and terrorist acts; risks and uncertainties posed by international operations, including foreign currency fluctuations; uncertainties and impacts related to the extent and duration of the pandemic; and our ability to comply with debt covenants and to repay our debt. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the “Risk Factors” section of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which can be found at www.LyondellBasell.com on the Investor Relations page and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. There is no assurance that any of the actions, events or results of the forward-looking statements will occur, or if any of them do, what impact they will have on our results of operations or financial condition. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made and are based on the estimates and opinions of management of LyondellBasell at the time the statements are made. LyondellBasell does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management’s estimates or opinions change, except as required by law.

Northern Trust’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts are global and led by its leadership teams across the world. This strategy has placed conversations on DE&I and LGBTQ+ inclusion in our business and people priorities at the very top of our list.

We were honored to co-present and sponsor the 2023 PFIP – Philippine Financial & Inter-Industry Pride CEO Forum in Manila, Philippines — an executive session around transformative allyship and the role of corporates in LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion.

Coy Macaspac-Ordonez,CPA, Northern Trust Country Executive – Philippines, was one of the panelists during the event. Other delegates included senior leaders from top firms and employers of choice from major industry organizations across the Philippines.

“From our longstanding commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, we understand that LGBTQ+ inclusion should be driven with support and accountability from the top. While we have done a lot of meaningful work in this space, we are cognizant that there is still more we can do in shaping inclusive workplaces for diverse gender identities within and outside of our organization. Therefore, we are proud of this partnership with the Philippine Financial and Inter-Industry Pride and the broader corporate pride community.”

You can discover more about our People and our Inclusive culture here.