International Paper (IP) announced its goals to increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020. IP plans to achieve these reductions by increasing manufacturing efficiencies, exploring new technologies and engaging its employees to find innovative solutions throughout its operations.

GEA Process Engineering purchased an existing high-shear mixing technology that’s designed for the mixing of high-viscosity dairy and food products such as sweetened condensed milk, ice cream mixes, processed cheese and spreads, ready-to-drink iced coffees and chocolate and isotonic drinks. The new mixing business will be headquartered at GEA Skanderborg in Denmark, and will market products under the new Mixing Formula brand name.

Autocrat LLC received an “Excellent” rating on its 2000 Level II certification by the Safe Quality Food (SQF) organization, enabling the company to meet product trace, regulatory, food safety and commercial quality criteria in a structured and cost-effective manner. Autocrat’s employees have been preparing for this certification for nearly two years under the guidance of certified SQF practitioner, Gina Brooks.

Heat and Control and Food Process Systems (FPS) formed a global partnership to develop and market new technology for applying batters, breading and other coatings to a variety of food products. FPS designs and builds versatile applicators for coating bakery products, nuts and more. Heat and Control is a leading international manufacturer and supplier of machinery systems and controls for food processing, seasoning application, conveying, inspection, weighing and packaging.

Solazyme Roquette Nutritionals is opening a Phase II commercial production facility in Lestrem, France, to produce its lead microalgae-derived food ingredient — whole algalin flour. The 5,000-metric-ton facility is scheduled to be completed by end of 2012.

Spirax Sarco joined the U.S. Department of Energy’s Save Energy Now LEADER program, making a voluntary pledge to reduce its industrial energy intensity at its Blythewood, S.C., headquarters by 25% over the next 10 years. The LEADER program is a new component of the existing Save Energy Now initiatives, which provide participating businesses with tools and training to help reduce energy and improve productivity, reliability, cost-effectiveness and overall environmental performance.

Ecolab Inc. received the 2011 IDFA Innovation Sustainability Award for its Envirocid Plus clean-in-place cleaner that’s designed to help processing plants manage their effluent and operating costs while improving their sustainability profile. Envirocid Plus uses a patent-pending, blended acid formulation that helps reduce total phosphorus and nitrates in plant effluent.

Gold Coast Ingredients received certification for International Food Standard (IFS), Version 5, a standard that is benchmarked against the criteria of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). This certification provides evidence of the commitment of Gold Coast Ingredients to build and operate a management system capable of meeting these requirements.