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Danone announces landmark carbon neutral certification of its baby formula production facility in Wexford (Ireland), in line with its ‘One Planet. One Health’ frame of action

  • This certification is a step towards realizing Danone’s commitment to achieving zero net carbon emissions across its entire value chain by 2050.
  • Wexford zero-waste to landfill facility powered by 100% renewable electricity is the first carbon neutral baby formula plant in the world certified by the Carbon Trust;
  • Danone has transformed its Wexford site into a carbon neutral facility between 2010 and 2020 whilst doubling production volumes;

 

Danone today announces that its facility in Wexford, Ireland is the first baby formula production site in the world to be certified carbon neutral by the Carbon Trust, an independent global climate change and sustainability consultancy.  This industry-leading milestone is a step towards achieving the company’s goal of zero net carbon emissions by 2050 and illustrates how Danone executes on its ‘One Planet. One Health’ frame of action, to protect the health of people and that of the planet.

 

Danone Wexford is located in one of the world’s leading sustainable grass-fed dairy sectors and employs 350 people. It 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: the plant sources 100% renewable electricity and uses a biomass boiler powered by sustainable wood fuels. This has resulted in 10.000 tons of CO2 savings compared to the plant’s emissions in 2010, representing a 70% reduction in its direct carbon footprint, whilst doubled its 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.
  • Implementing digital technologies for efficiencies and sustainability performance: the facility has developed a digital roadmap which includes a significant number of initiatives to become a paperless site, using drones for monitoring inventory and innovative technologies for monitoring energy.  
  • Supporting local economy: the sustainable wood fuel powering the boiler is sourced from the local wood chipping industry, also delivering a positive economic impact in Wexford County.
  • Contributing to regenerative agriculture practices in Ireland: as a verified member of Origin Green, the only global food and drink sustainability program uniting Government, food producers and the private sector.
  • Achieving zero-waste to landfill: all waste from production processes or packaging materials is recovered.

 

Emmanuel Faber, Chairman and CEO of Danone, said: “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. 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 health of the planet and of the people. It is also a step towards realizing our commitment to achieving zero net carbon emissions across our entire value chain by 2050 and I truly want to congratulate our people in Wexford for realizing an ambitious vision set more than 10 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.”

 

Sustainable manufacturing: recent achievements

Danone Wexford reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to the sustainability of its production sites. In 2019, Danone inaugurated a new sustainable, energy and water efficient production facility for baby formula in the Netherlands and announced an investment of NZ$40 million towards achieving 100% carbon neutrality of its spray drying plant for baby formula in New Zealand. Danone is also committed to reducing the climate impact of its other baby formula production site in Macroom, Ireland which relies on natural gas for its energy needs. With the objective of achieving carbon neutrality, Danone stands at the forefront of those calling for the establishment of a biogas industry as a renewable alternative to natural gas in Macroom.

Danone climate strategy and recent achievements

Today’s announcement is part of a companywide effort by Danone to promote greenhouse gas reduction. In 2015, Danone committed to zero net carbon emissions across our full value-chain by 2050 and to reduce scope 1, 2 and 3 emission intensity by 50% for 2030. In September 2019, Danone joined 86 other global companies in signing the Global Compact’s Business Ambition for 1.5°C pledge. The company has also reached the peak of its full scope carbon emissions, five years ahead of its original plan and commitment and one year prior to the 1.5°C Science-Based Targets commitment. To further accelerate climate action, Danone announced a €2 billion climate acceleration plan to fund the transformation of its agriculture, energy and operations, packaging and digital capabilities between 2020 and 2022.

From 2019 onwards Danone will show 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. This initiative also connects 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 our planet.

 

 

 

 

About Danone (www.danone.com)  

Dedicated to bringing health through food to as many people as possible, Danone is a leading global food & beverage company building on health-focused and fast-growing categories in 3 businesses: Essential Dairy & Plant-Based, Waters and Specialized Nutrition. Danone aims to inspire healthier and more sustainable eating and drinking practices, in line with its ‘One Planet. One Health’ frame of action which reflects a strong belief that the health of people and that of the planet are interconnected. To accelerate the food revolution and create superior, sustainable, profitable value for all its stakeholders, Danone has defined nine 2030 Goals aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Danone commits to operating in an efficient, responsible and inclusive manner, as reflected by its ambition to become one of the first multinationals certified as B CorpTM. With more than 100,000 employees, and products sold in over 120 markets, Danone generated €25.3 billion in sales in 2019. Danone’s portfolio includes leading international brands (Actimel, Activia, Alpro, Aptamil, Danette, Danio, Danonino, evian, Nutricia, Nutrilon, Volvic, among others) as well as strong local and regional brands (including AQUA, Blédina, Bonafont, Cow & Gate, Horizon, Mizone, Oikos, Prostokvashino, Silk, Vega). Danone is committed to leading the battle against climate change by putting climate actions even more at the core of its growth model, joining people’s fight for climate and nature with the power of its brands. Danone is one of only 6 companies worldwide with a ‘triple A’ score by CDP in recognition of its leading environmental efforts to tackle climate change, fight deforestation and protect water cycles. Listed on Euronext Paris and on the OTCQX market via an ADR (American Depositary Receipt) program, Danone is a component stock of leading sustainability indexes including the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, Vigeo Eiris, Sustainalytics, the Ethibel Sustainability Index, MSCI Global Sustainability, MSCI GlobalSRI Indexes, the FTSE4Good Index and Bloomberg Gender Equality Index.

 

Danone in Ireland

Danone employs a total of almost 700 people in Ireland, including two supply points in Macroom and Wexford and Danone Dairy Ireland, Danone Waters and Specialized Nutrition offices in Dublin. Danone is a member of Origin Green and central to this sustainability programme, is the Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme (SDAS), the first national dairy scheme of its kind, an independently verified and internationally accredited programme. Ireland’s dairy farmers participate in the SDAS programme, where consistent audits and continuous improvement ensure a sustainable supply of quality milk. In addition to working with farmers, companies like Danone must set and achieve a minimum of three targets in the area of manufacturing processes and operations. Targets areas include energy, water, waste, emissions, and biodiversity. Danone Dairy Ireland became B Corp™ accredited in 2019 and the first FMCG to achieve the accreditation in Ireland. Today more than 30% of Danone’s global sales are covered by the B Corp™ Certification, and Danone’s ambition is to become one of the first multinational food companies to be B Corp™ Certified at a global level.

 

For information about Danone Ireland please visit: www.danone.ie

 

About the Carbon Trust

Established in 2001, the Carbon Trust works with businesses, governments and institutions around the world, helping them contribute to, and benefit from, a more sustainable future through carbon reduction, resource efficiency strategies, and commercializing low carbon businesses, systems and technologies.

The Carbon Trust:

  • works with corporates and governments, helping them to align their strategies with climate science and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement;
  • provides expert advice and assurance, giving investors and financial institutions the confidence that green finance will have genuinely green outcomes; and
  • supports the development low carbon technologies and solutions, building the foundations for the energy system of the future.
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