We have just published our eighth Sustainability Report, detailing our progress in 2022 and our future commitments to the environment and our employees, customers, and suppliers.

As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of pure, natural collagen proteins and gelatin products, we take our ESG (environmental, social, and governance) responsibilities very seriously. GELITA’s core business is intrinsically based on the principle of the circular economy, because we refine by-products from the food industry to create valuable ingredients for many new applications.

For us sustainability embodies a comprehensive approach that encompasses environmental protection, social engagement, and the highest standards of corporate governance. We firmly believe that by integrating sustainability into every facet of our organization, we can make a significant difference in the world around us.

The report’s highlights include:

• Cutting our greenhouse gas emissions between 2020 and 2022 by 10%. Projected to 2030, this will result in an almost 50% reduction in CO2 emissions.
• Reduction of water footprint per kilogram of product by 2.7%.
• A 26.51% reduction in the total amount of waste for disposal between 2020 and 2022, as a result of separating valuable material flows.

Taking action

Working toward our goals involves the entire GELITA family around the world. For example, at our plant in Maringá, Brazil, we are now converting wastewater sludge into fertilizer. This is being used by local farmers to replace expensive chemical fertilizers.

In March this year, we opened a new gas-fired power station at our Australian site in Beaudesert. It has doubled output and halved CO2 emissions compared to the 20-year-old coal-fired plant it replaced. We do, however, recognize that this is an intermediate step, and we continue to seek a fully fossil-free solution.

Investment in a new spray dryer at our collagen peptide plant in Minden, Germany, has enabled us to stop using contract dryers. This has eliminated 50,000km of transportation at a stroke, while the plant’s modern technical design has allowed greater efficiency and energy savings.

At our factory in Pilsac-León, Mexico, we have upgraded the wastewater treatment systems to outperform local environmental specifications and treat 100% of wastewater. This brings us closer to our goal of clean, sustainable production. Further, by renovating the existing concrete tanks rather than building a new system, we saved a significant amount of CO2 emissions.

To find out more about our recent activities, including updates on our CSR strategy, please download our latest sustainability report: Gelita Sustainability Report 2022 (page2flip.de)