SunOpta Installs 700+ Solar Panels at Minnesota HQ

SunOpta, a manufacturer of plant- and fruit-based private label foods and beverages, has taken a large step towards sustainability at its headquarters and innovation center in Eden Prairie, Minn.

The company has installed 742 solar panels at the facility, occupying 36,000 square-feet of its roof. The panels are estimated to produce up to 447,667 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy on an annual basis, in turn reducing up to 317 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year. 

SunOpta says that the addition of renewable energy use at its headquarters aligns with SunOpta's strategy to reduce its electricity footprint in its own plant facilities by 40% and natural gas by 30% as outlined in its 2022 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report.

“As a producer of plant-based food and beverages, sustainability is at the heart of who we are,” said Joe Ennen, CEO of SunOpta. “Solar is a triple win for us: A win for the environment, a win for the community as we use fewer public utilities and a win for the business, as solar delivers long-term cost savings. As we drive sales growth towards $2 billion by 2030, it’s important we do so as sustainably as possible, and our recent investment in solar is one of many ESG proof points.”

Other sustainable features of SunOpta’s headquarters and innovation center include nearly 13,000 square feet of renewable bamboo flooring, 920 LED light fixtures, 630 plantings, indoor plantings and trees, and more. In 2022, SunOpta said it reduced electricity usage in its own U.S. and Canadian plant facilities by 31.7% from its baseline year in 2019.