CSM Ingredients has launched a sustainability strategy with the goal of becoming a net positive ingredient platform with ‘society and the planet at the heart of all operations’.
Through the plan, called Thrive for Impact, the Luxembourg-based company – which supplies bakery ingredients in more than 100 countries – aims to position itself as a driver for the ‘new future of food’ and promote a ‘virtuous approach to business’. The ingredients provider has also published its first sustainability report as a tool to present its approach and track progress on its goals.
Thrive for Impact focuses on the three ‘core pillars’ of people, planet and product. CSM is a member of the United Nations Global Compact – an initiative to encourage businesses and firms worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies – and its strategy is ‘closely linked’ to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the company said.
“Following the implementation of our new business structure in 2021, over the past year we have worked hard to assess, plan and articulate our sustainability journey; one that is driven at the core of everything we do by our net-positive approach, and supported by our Thrive for Impact strategy,” said CEO Aldo Uva. “For this reason, at CSM Ingredients we are proud to communicate our first steps to becoming a net positive ingredient-tech platform.”
As part of its ‘people’ plan, CSM said it expects to become fully compliant in the health and safety management standard ISO 45001 for all its facilities by 2025. The strategy will also focus on generating value for people through community outreach, diversity, equity and inclusion.
Among CSM’s ‘planet’ goals are the replacement of traditional electricity sources at its sites with renewables. The company has already begun carrying out the plan, with solar panels installed at most sites, with the objective to reach 100% renewable energy by 2025. In addition, CSM is partnering with sustainability organisation Climate Partner to measure its carbon footprint, which stood at 23,961 tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2021.
The company’s ‘product’ plan includes ongoing innovation in increasing biodiversity and plant-based ingredients, and reducing packaging, sugar and salt. According to CSM, sustainability is now embedded across the business as a shared responsibility, with all new product developments, reformulations and innovations vetted accordingly.
“Rooted in our strong heritage, we are in a phase of true transformation, and it goes without saying that if the food industry is to evolve, the ingredients industry must evolve first through a collaborative approach,” Uva said.
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