Sustainability in Action: Commitment to People and Planet
Responding to a constantly changing world has never been more challenging or important. From climate change to regenerative agriculture, human rights to renewable energy, we believe that being good stewards of our planet and its people is a shared responsibility that has far-reaching implications for supply chain resilience for generations to come. Our sustainability team will explore how Ingredion puts its values into action through our commitment to human rights and the environment. We will address how we uphold ethical labor practices, focus our efforts towards reducing our environmental impact, and navigate the complexities of global human rights and environmental standards while striving for transparency and continuous improvement. We will also unpack the barriers to meaningful environmental and human rights measurement, from inconsistent data and reporting standards to the challenge of capturing long-term impact.
Whether you work in environmental, social, and governance (ESG), manufacturing, policy, or advocacy, this session will offer practical insights into aligning sustainability goals with action and accountability.
Speakers:
Brittany VanBuskirk, manager, sustainability and human rights, Ingredion, believes in the responsibility of global food manufacturers to do good for the planet and the people inhabiting it. With nearly 15 years of experience in the food and beverage space, Brittany has focused her career in sustainability, human rights, and product development. She currently leads Ingredion’s global human rights program where she collaborates internally and externally to progress responsible sourcing and responsible manufacturing efforts. Brittany has her M.B.S from Rutgers University in Global Agriculture with a graduate certificate in Sustainable Food Systems from Harvard University and her B.S in Food Science from Pennsylvania State University.
Eric Aaviku is the senior manager of operations sustainability at Ingredion, where he leads the collection and auditing of global environmental data to quantify the company’s environmental footprint. With 19 years at Ingredion, Eric has built a diverse career spanning project engineering, environmental compliance, EH&S management, and corporate sustainability.
A mechanical engineer by training, Eric earned his master’s degree in environmental business in 2020, combining technical expertise with strategic sustainability leadership. His work focuses on driving data integrity and actionable insights that support Ingredion’s global sustainability goals. Based in Canada, Eric is passionate about leveraging engineering principles and business acumen to create measurable environmental impact across operations worldwide.
Courtney Smith is the sustainability manager for US & Canada at Ingredion, where she works across the business to drive progress on the company’s sustainability goals in the region. She partners closely with...
Sustainability in Action: Commitment to People and Planet
Responding to a constantly changing world has never been more challenging or important. From climate change to regenerative agriculture, human rights to renewable energy, we believe that being good stewards of our planet and its people is a shared responsibility that has far-reaching implications for supply chain resilience for generations to come. Our sustainability team will explore how Ingredion puts its values into action through our commitment to human rights and the environment. We will address how we uphold ethical labor practices, focus our efforts towards reducing our environmental impact, and navigate the complexities of global human rights and environmental standards while striving for transparency and continuous improvement. We will also unpack the barriers to meaningful environmental and human rights measurement, from inconsistent data and reporting standards to the challenge of capturing long-term impact.
Whether you work in environmental, social, and governance (ESG), manufacturing, policy, or advocacy, this session will offer practical insights into aligning sustainability goals with action and accountability.
Speakers:
Brittany VanBuskirk, manager, sustainability and human rights, Ingredion, believes in the responsibility of global food manufacturers to do good for the planet and the people inhabiting it. With nearly 15 years of experience in the food and beverage space, Brittany has focused her career in sustainability, human rights, and product development. She currently leads Ingredion’s global human rights program where she collaborates internally and externally to progress responsible sourcing and responsible manufacturing efforts. Brittany has her M.B.S from Rutgers University in Global Agriculture with a graduate certificate in Sustainable Food Systems from Harvard University and her B.S in Food Science from Pennsylvania State University.
Eric Aaviku is the senior manager of operations sustainability at Ingredion, where he leads the collection and auditing of global environmental data to quantify the company’s environmental footprint. With 19 years at Ingredion, Eric has built a diverse career spanning project engineering, environmental compliance, EH&S management, and corporate sustainability.
A mechanical engineer by training, Eric earned his master’s degree in environmental business in 2020, combining technical expertise with strategic sustainability leadership. His work focuses on driving data integrity and actionable insights that support Ingredion’s global sustainability goals. Based in Canada, Eric is passionate about leveraging engineering principles and business acumen to create measurable environmental impact across operations worldwide.
Courtney Smith is the sustainability manager for US & Canada at Ingredion, where she works across the business to drive progress on the company’s sustainability goals in the region. She partners closely with commercial teams and customers to develop partnerships and advance shared sustainability priorities. Before transitioning into corporate sustainability, Courtney spent three years in the Peace Corps and six years leading strategy and operations for an agricultural social-impact organization serving smallholder farmers in East Africa. She is passionate about building a more just, resilient, and sustainable global food system. Courtney holds an MBA from IESE Business School and a master’s degree in international agriculture and rural development from Cornell University.
