Reduction of water consumption
Nearly 800 million people worldwide have no access to basic drinking water facilities. More than two billion people lack access to clean and safe water sources. Clearly, there is every reason for us to use water responsibly. We are taking measures to reduce water consumption at our production facilities by 20% between 2020 and 2025.
From waste to raw material
When we hear the word “waste”, we tend to think of rubbish bins full of materials we no longer need: cardboard, tins and plastic. But if we do not reuse water and energy, these too become types of waste. Since a large portion of our waste potentially has value, we prefer to use the term “residual streams”. For example, valuable raw materials can be extracted from residual water from our production facilities, and cow manure can be used to generate clean energy. Similarly, whey was once a waste product from making cheese, but is now a valuable ingredient used in infant nutrition.
Energy-conscious Borculo
Our production facility in Borculo in the Dutch province of Gelderland sends residual water through a pressure line to the Rijn and IJssel water board. Using a special water purification process, a bio-based product called Kaumera is extracted from this residual water. Kaumera is used in various ways in agriculture and horticulture. As a result, our residual water becomes a valuable product once again. The facility in Borculo is on the right track in other ways as well. For example, they are generating energy from sustainable pyrolisis oil and biogas. This saves about 24,000 tonnes of CO2 each year. This brings us another step closer to a circular way of working.
Last modified on: 18/01/2023 14:48