Our environment
AMBITIONS
We're committed to the environment and to help fight global warming. In everything we do, we aim to reduce our ecological footprint.
Within our Environment pillar, we focus on 5 Sustainable Development Goals issues by the United Nations:
01. Recyclable packaging by 2025
Lotus Bakeries is committed to designing all its packaging for all its brands to be technically recyclable by 2025. The ideal packaging contains as little packaging material as possible without loss of flavour and freshness.
Following our ambition to reduce what we use, Lotus Bakeries was able to realise a number of projects to further limit the packaging weight it brings to the market in 2022.
02. Committed to Net-Zero Emissions by 2050
In March 2023, Lotus Bakeries has signed the Commitment Letter from the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) and thereby committed to set reduction targets aimed at limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial levels and achieving net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050.
Since November 2023, we are proudly participating in the ambitious Forest Plantation Project, led by the Colruyt Group in the Democratic Republic of Congo, that endorses our commitment. Through this project, Colruyt Group has the ambition to plant over 10.000 hectares of forest, containing 12 million trees. We believe that this partnership fortifies our joint determination to both reduce and offset carbon emission. Only by working together within the value chain can we obtain true impact.
Images by Christian Clauwers
PARAMETERS
Priorities |
Unit |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
% of packaging of all Lotus Bakeries brands that is recyclable1 |
% |
97 |
97 |
97 |
|
% of our owned sites that have earned the CO2-neutral label |
% |
100 |
100 |
100 |
Packaging |
Unit |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
|
Reduction of plastic |
tonnes/year |
62 |
22 |
19 |
|
Use of recycled cardboard |
% |
80 |
75 |
77 |
|
Use of cardboard with the 'sustainable managed forest' guarantee |
% |
78 |
76 |
77 |
CO2 equivalent emissions |
Unit |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
|
Output of scope 1 & 2 CO2 equivalent emissions per tonne produced on our owned sites3 |
kgCO2e/tonne |
170 |
163 |
1454 |
|
Output of scope 1 & 2 CO2 equivalent emissions per3 tonne produced on our owned sites, excluding own transport |
kgCO2e/tonne |
161 |
156 |
1394 |
Energy Consumption |
Unit |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
|
Energy consumption per tonne |
kWh/tonne |
1,074 |
1,064 |
1,0714 |
Waste |
Unit |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
|
Kg of waste per tonne generated2 |
Kg/tonne |
60 |
63 |
54 |
1 The recyclability rate is the average technical recyclability of the packaging of all Lotus Bakeries brands by the end of 2022. It takes into account consumer packaging, distribution packaging and transport packaging. The technical recyclability rate is determined per packaging component on the basis of state-of-the-art design guidelines for recyclability (Ceflex, Recyclass). The average technical recyclability is a weight average, based on the packaging weight of each packaging component. packaging component.
2 This concerns residual waste, production waste, grease, paper and cardboard at our owned sites. Tonnes produced includes the produced volumes of margarine plant.
3 As from 2022, this includes company vehicles from the site in Comines.
4 Following an analysis within the ESG project, the calculation of the external consultant was refined. The additional CO2 e emissions were compensated with additional certificates so that 100% CO2 neutrality was maintained.
To further increase consumer's awareness of the recyclability of our packaging and to encourage everyone to sort the recyclable packaging correctly according to local recycling practices, we designed a 'recycle me' icon.
This visual, combined with the slogan 'Let's care for our planet together', is or soon will be featured on each recyclable pack, provided that the packaging is collected in that specific country.
This 'recycle me' icon is an initiative undertaken by Lotus Bakeries and is not related to any official government authority or certification body. In this way, we aim to encourage everyone even more to do their bit by making sure that all our recyclable packaging can end up in the right waste stream.