BY UE STUDIO
Updated Friday, 20October2023 - 12:58
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More than six decades later, Lactalis Puleva is making progress in the challenge of transforming its activity towards more sustainable dairy food production processes and is following a path, together with the other companies of the Lactalis Group, a leader in the dairy sector in Spain, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In this sense, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability in the company in Spain are based on three priority areas of action: planet (SDGs 6, 7, 12, 13 and 15), products (SDGs 3, 12 and 15) and people (SDGs 3, 4, 5 and 8), to which ethical governance is added in a transversal way as a guarantor of the responsible behavior of the organization (SDGs 16 and 17).
In addition, all the companies that are part of the Lactalis Group around the world have prioritizedthree common objectives in terms of environmental sustainability in order to move forward collectively. These are ambitious and concrete challenges that support the corporate commitment to increasingly sustainable food: continuing to make progress in animal welfare (SDGs 12 and 15), reducing the carbon footprint (SDGs 7, 9, 12 and 13) and promoting the circular economy and sustainable packaging (SDGs 12 and 13).
2022: Commitments and progress
As part of the Lactalis Group, Lactalis Puleva has continued to work intensively this year to make progress that contributes to reducing the impact of all its activity: more farms certified in animal welfare, new investments aimed at increasing the weight of renewable energy in the energy mix and specific improvements in packaging are some of the initiatives.
More Farms Certified in Animal Welfare
Puleva has a clear roadmap. In addition to collaborating with livestock farms to identify and promote more sustainable production formulas such as organic milk, which it pioneered more than 20 years ago, all the companies that are part of the Lactalis Group are committed to certifications as a way to guarantee milk quality, animal welfare and more optimal production processes.
In this sense, Grupo Lactalis is the Spanish company with the highest number of farms certified (97.27%) in animal welfareunder the Animal Welfair seal. During 2022, 98.22% of the milk collected was certified under this seal and 100% of the Lactalis Group's field staff have completed their training in animal welfare.
Strong acceleration in carbon footprint reduction
Another of its sustainability priorities is to reduce the carbon footprint associated with its activity in all links of the production cycle of its products. In 2022, Lactalis Puleva achieved a -73% reduction in scope 2 and 1 CO2 emissions compared to 2019 figures, well above the global commitments of the Lactalis Group, which aims to contribute to net zero CO2 emissions by 2050.
As stated in SDG 13, they are focused on increasing the energy efficiency of their activity through the constant improvement of facilities and production processes, as well as the increasing use of renewable energies.
50% of the electricity that the companies that make up the Lactalis Group in Spain use in factories, warehouses and offices is of renewable origin, thanks to the agreement reached with ENGIE Spain. In the case of Granada, Lactalis Puleva's largest capacity plant in Spain, a solar plant has begun operating that allows 67% of electricity to be obtained from renewable sources.
In order to advance in the goal of total decarbonisation of the activity, there are several projects underway, such as the reuse of waste heat, recovering condensates in the four plants (representing a reduction of 1,930 tonnes of CO2 emissions); the reduction of temperatures in the processes and the change of all lighting to LED technology.
Significant advances in sustainable packaging and circular economy
Aligned with SDG 12, their goal is to continue offering nutritious and quality products in what they have called 'the right packaging': with the least mix of materials, the right intensity to guarantee the organoleptic qualities of the food and the highest possible percentage of recycled material.
During 2022, they have made progress:
- Reducing the weight of our packaging, specifically in the 1-litre fresh milk bottle, which means a reduction of -26 tonnes of PET plastic.
- Increasing recycled material, going from 30% to 50% of recycled plastic in secondary films, which means a reduction of -412 tons of virgin plastic each year.
- Facilitating recycling, with the implementation of the cap tied to the 1-litre fresh milk bottle and to all our containers in carton format. In this way, the container (bottle or carton) and the cap are recycled together, and the cap is prevented from being lost in the recycling circuit. In this way, they limit environmental pollution.
- Helping to recycle, incorporating waste management logos on all our packaging.
Other Notable Initiatives
As part of its CSR commitment, Lactalis Puleva has also promoted other initiatives:
- World Clean Up Day, an international initiative of the Lactalis Group in which a representation of the plant staff of Granada participated to collect litter in the environment, in collaboration with the city council.
- Installation of new electric chargers in the car parks of the workplaces.
- Obtaining the "Zero Waste" Certificate at the Granada plant, a plant in which 99.8% of the waste generated, recycled or reused and does not end up in landfills.
- Product Nutritional Improvement: The amount of sugar in ChocoPower has been reduced.
- Support for grassroots sport with the sponsorship of the Lugo river club.
- Nutrition workshops aimed at the elderly in civic centres in Granada.
- Advances in the well-being of our staff: renovation of offices in Granada, physiotherapy service, teleworking, promotion of healthy lifestyle habits (fruit day, access to nutritionist...)
Other commitments
Lactalis Puleva, like the rest of the Lactalis Group's business units, continues to work to ensure the economic sustainability of its activity, because only in this way will it be possible to guarantee the future of the livestock sector and the population's access to healthy and tasty food, while protecting the planet and its resources.
Aware of the social, economic, ethical, legal and environmental responsibility it has towards the environment in which it operates and its impact, especially important in rural areas, the Lactalis Group publishes its annual corporate responsibility report, which details the commitments and main advances in these and other areas.
Download RC 2022 report
Made by UE Studio
This text has been developed by UE Studio, creative branded content and content marketing firm of Unidad Editorial, paraPULEVA.