Natural resources

• Agricultural production
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• Natural resources
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The Bonduelle Group’s natural resources policy is carried out operationally by each subsidiary and by the research and development department. This is achieved through actions such as regular auditing of Group plants, recovery of energy used in the production process, establishment of online telematics to measure and monitor consumption, training and raising the awareness of Group personnel and pooling experience..

 

14 % reduction in energy consumption in five years

Launched in 2002-03, the natural resources conservation program has resulted in the sustainable and steady improvement of the environmental performances of the Group’s production facilities. In 2008-09 Bonduelle achieved a 1.7% year-on-year decrease in its total consumption of electrical and thermal energy, bringing to 14% the total reduction over the past five years.

 

Improvement in the management and recovery of ressources

The Group’s water consumption fell by 5% over 2007-08, for a total reduction of 33% in only five years. Nearly two thirds of the Group’s plants achieved their consumption savings objective during the previous year. Moreover, the materials and energy  ecovered through the selective separation and sorting of industrial waste attained the 71% mark, while 93% of the tonnages of plant by-products produced were reused for animal feed and the production of biogas. Bonduelle is also striving to reduce waste at the source: the combined efforts of the R&D and purchasing departments along with the processing plants have resulted in various improvements in packaging. One example is the canned segment, which is working to optimize the thickness of the cans, jars and boxes used as containers, as well as the packaging they are shipped in. A similar approach was implemented by the frozen segment in order to develop more eco-friendly cartons, films and palettes. This approach is being developed throughout the Group through many awarenessheightening initiatives supported by the tools offered in France by the company Eco Emballages.

  

Preparing for the challenges of tomorrow

 

In order to successfully manage all new economic, regulatory, energy and social constraints that will arise, in 2008-09 the Group initiated several studies related to the use of alternative energies, including the recovery of biogas produced by the bio-purification of industrial effluents for use in boilers, and the launch of a request for proposals for a project for the methanization of corn waste. The Group is, moreover, active in monitoring the work being performed to evaluate the environmental impact of products on the market.

 

"Frugal factory" project : an innovative partnership

 

In partnership with EDF, the French electric utility and the elite Paris School of Mining, the Bonduelle Group also launched a flagship project in 2009. With the support of the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME), “frugal factory” is a program intended to identify the best technological solutions for building the plant of the future, consuming as little energy as possible while providing the best possible working conditions for employees.

This partnership will enable Bonduelle to further contribute to the fight against global warming, one of the Group’s major preoccupations as since 2005-06 it has reduced greenhouse gas emissions from its industrial production by the equivalent of 61,000 metric tons of CO2.