Report on Campbell Soup Supply Company’s Environmental Violations and Sustainable Development Goal Implications

Introduction

Campbell Soup Supply Company, LLC has formally acknowledged significant breaches of the U.S. Clean Water Act at its Napoleon, Ohio, facility. In a legal stipulation filed on September 15, the company did not contest claims of over 5,400 violations occurring between April 2018 and December 2024. These actions have resulted in substantial pollution of the Maumee River, a primary tributary to Lake Erie, thereby directly undermining several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning clean water, aquatic ecosystems, and responsible corporate conduct.

Details of Environmental Non-Compliance

Legal Context and Admitted Violations

A lawsuit was initiated in March 2024 by environmental advocacy groups Environment America and Lake Erie Waterkeeper. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, alleges that the Campbell’s facility, a designated “point source” for discharge, repeatedly exceeded its permitted waste limits. The company’s subsequent stipulation confirms its admission of these exceedances. The total number of documented violations stands at 5,468 over a six-and-a-half-year period.

Pollutants Discharged

The unauthorized discharges introduced a range of harmful substances into the Maumee River watershed, compromising water quality and ecosystem health. The specific pollutants included:

• Phosphorus
• Ammonia
• E. coli
• Total residual chlorine
• Oil and grease
• Unacceptable pH levels

Conflict with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The consistent discharge of pollutants into the Maumee River is a direct contravention of SDG 6, which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The actions specifically undermine Target 6.3, which calls for improving water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping, and minimizing the release of hazardous chemicals and materials.

SDG 14: Life Below Water

The pollution has severe consequences for Lake Erie’s ecosystem, directly impacting SDG 14. The high levels of phosphorus are a primary contributor to the formation of toxic algal blooms, which deplete oxygen, harm aquatic life, and degrade habitats. This conflicts with Target 14.1, focused on preventing and significantly reducing marine and freshwater pollution from land-based activities.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

This case highlights a failure to adhere to the principles of SDG 12. The company’s operational practices did not align with Target 12.4, which advocates for the environmentally sound management of chemicals and wastes throughout their life cycle to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment. It also raises questions regarding corporate accountability under Target 12.6, which encourages companies to adopt sustainable practices.

Additional SDG Implications

The environmental damage has broader implications for other global goals:

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: Toxic algal blooms pose a direct risk to human health, conflicting with Target 3.9 to reduce illnesses from water pollution and contamination.
2. SDG 15: Life on Land: The pollution degrades inland freshwater ecosystems, which is contrary to the objectives of Target 15.1.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The legal action against the company represents an effort to enforce environmental laws and hold institutions accountable, in line with the principles of SDG 16.

Corporate Response and Required Future Actions

Company Position

In a statement on September 18, Campbell’s affirmed that it has initiated measures to comply with environmental regulations and asserted that its facility has had a minimal impact on the Maumee River and Lake Erie. The company highlighted its long-standing presence in the Napoleon community since 1938.

Path Forward

Following the admission of violations, the next steps involve determining the necessary operational upgrades to prevent future non-compliance and establishing the financial penalty for the sustained period of pollution. Environmental advocates emphasize the need for Campbell’s to invest in processes that ensure its discharges remain within legally permitted limits, thereby aligning its operations with critical Sustainable Development Goals for water and ecosystem protection.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The article’s central theme is the pollution of the Maumee River and Lake Erie due to illegal discharges from a Campbell Soup facility. This directly addresses the goal of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation, particularly concerning water quality.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The issue stems from a company’s industrial production process and its failure to manage waste responsibly. The lawsuit highlights the need for corporations to adopt sustainable practices and adhere to environmental regulations, which is a core component of SDG 12.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  The article explicitly states that pollutants, especially phosphorus, from the Campbell’s facility contribute to “toxic algal blooms” in Lake Erie. These blooms are “incredibly toxic to humans and wildlife and pets” and degrade aquatic habitats, directly connecting the issue to the goal of conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article details a legal challenge brought by environmental groups against a corporation for violating national environmental laws (the Clean Water Act). This action represents an effort to ensure accountability and access to justice for environmental damage, which aligns with the goal of promoting just, peaceful, and inclusive societies.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution

  The article focuses on the Campbell’s facility exceeding its “discharge or waste limits” and releasing pollutants like “ammonia, E. coli, total residual chlorine, phosphorus, pH, oil and grease” into the Maumee River. The lawsuit aims to force the company to “clean up their operations and prevent further exceedances,” which directly supports the objective of improving water quality by reducing pollution from industrial sources.

• Target 12.4: Environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes

  The company’s 5,468 violations of the Clean Water Act represent a failure to achieve the environmentally sound management of its waste. The legal action is intended to compel Campbell’s to manage its waste discharges in accordance with the law to “minimize their adverse impacts on… the environment.”

• Target 14.1: Prevent and reduce marine pollution

  The article identifies the factory’s discharge as a “land-based” activity causing “nutrient pollution” in Lake Erie. It specifically mentions that “Campbell’s phosphorus discharges, contributes to the lake’s toxic algal blooms.” This directly relates to the target of preventing and significantly reducing marine pollution, particularly from land-based activities like industrial wastewater discharge.

• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice

  The lawsuit filed by Environment America and Lake Erie Waterkeeper against Campbell’s is a clear example of civil society using the legal system to enforce national laws (the Clean Water Act). This action demonstrates the promotion of the rule of law and the use of judicial mechanisms to hold a polluter accountable, thereby ensuring access to environmental justice.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicators for Target 6.3:

  The article explicitly names the pollutants being discharged: “ammonia, E. coli, total residual chlorine, phosphorus, pH, oil and grease.” The concentration and volume of these specific pollutants in the facility’s wastewater serve as direct indicators of water quality. The article also mentions that the company exceeded its “permitted discharge limits,” making the adherence to these legal limits a key performance indicator.

• Indicators for Target 12.4:

  A very specific quantitative indicator is mentioned: the company violated the Clean Water Act “5,468 times” between April 2018 and December 2024. The number of violations of environmental permits is a direct measure of a company’s failure to manage its waste responsibly. Progress would be measured by the reduction of these violations to zero.

• Indicators for Target 14.1:

  The article identifies “phosphorus” as a key pollutant. The level of phosphorus concentration in the water discharged from the plant and in the Maumee River and Lake Erie is a direct indicator of nutrient pollution. The presence and extent of “toxic algal blooms” in Lake Erie, which are caused by this pollution, serve as a visible, qualitative indicator of the health of the aquatic ecosystem.

• Indicators for Target 16.3:

  The filing of the lawsuit itself and the subsequent stipulation where Campbell’s “agreed not to contest claims” are indicators that the legal system is being utilized to address environmental law violations. The outcome of the lawsuit, including the penalty amount and the required actions for Campbell’s to “clean up their operations,” will serve as indicators of the effectiveness of the justice system in enforcing environmental regulations.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: usatoday.com