Danone plant is first in world to become carbon neutral
DANONE has received carbon neutral certification for its plant in Wexford, making it the first baby food manufacturer in the world to achieve the standard.
Company chairman Emmanuel Faber congratulated employees in Wexford, saying the achievement is an excellent example of implementing climate action to protect the planet.
Danone which uses the slogan ‘One Planet, One Health’, has set itself an ambition to achieve zero net carbon emissions across the entire group by 2050.
Wexford is the standard bearer having worked over the past decade to turn the plant into a zero waste to landfill facility powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity.
The industry-leading milestone was achieved while doubling production volumes at the production site, with the certification carried out by the Carbon Trust, an independent global climate change and sustainability consultancy.
Danone Wexford employs 350 people and produces leading brands like Aptamil, Cow & Gate and Nutrilon for consumers in 41 countries around the world.
The plant sustainably manufactures high-quality baby formula by curbing carbon emissions. It sources 100 per cent renewable electricity and uses a biomass boiler powered by sustainable wood fuels, resulting in 10,000 tonnes of C02 savings compared to the plant’s emissions in 2010, representing a 70 per cent reduction in its direct carbon footprint, while doubling production volumes since then.
Since the end of 2019, the remaining direct carbon emissions of the plant have been fully offset with Gold Standard certificates.
The facility has developed a digital plan which includes a large number of initiatives to become a paperless site, using drones for monitoring inventory and innovative technologies for monitoring energy.
The wood fuel which powers the boiler is sourced from the local wood chipping industry, thereby contributing to the local economy.
The company contributes to regenerative agricultural practices in Ireland, as a verified member of Origin Green, the only global food and drink sustainability programme which unites Government, food producers and the private sector.
Zero waste goes to landfill from the plant. All waste from production processes or packaging materials is recovered.
‘At extraordinary times like the one we are living at the moment, it is more important than ever to protect the local ecosystems where we operate and create sustainable value for everyone’, said the Danone chairman and CEO.
‘Our One Planet, One Health frame of action puts climate at the core of our growth model.
‘ The carbon neutral certification of Danone Wexford is an excellent illustration of implementing climate action to protect the health of the planet and of the people.
‘I truly want to congratulate our people in Wexford for realising an ambitious vision set more than ten years ago.
‘ This is only a first step and we should accelerate even more to create a low-emissions, climate resilient future. It is through key investments like this one that we take a step forward towards reaching this ambition’, said Mr. Faber.
Danone is also committed to reducing the climate impact of its other baby formula production site in Macroom, Co Cork which relies on natural gas for its energy needs.
The Wexford announcement is part of a company-wide effort by Danone to promote greenhouse gas reduction.
To further accelerate climate action, the company announced a €2 billion plan to fund the transformation of its agriculture, energy and operations, packaging and digital capabilities between 2020 and 2022.
From 2019 onwards, it committed to showing a carbon-adjusted recurring earnings per share that takes into account the estimated financial cost for the absolute GHG emissions on its entire value chain.
The initiative links with with Danone’s ambition to become a Certified B CorpTM globally, using ‘ business as a force for good’ to create sustainable value for all and protecting the planet.