Climate Change Data

Puratos Group NV/SA

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2020, 2021, 2023)

Reporting Period: 2020

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:87,000 tCO2e (net)
Scope 1 Emissions:68,607 tCO2e
Scope 2 Emissions:18,613 tCO2e
Scope 3 Emissions:85,889 tCO2e
Renewable Energy Share:67%
Total Energy Consumption:435,174 MWh
Water Consumption:1.8 million m3
Waste Generated:Not disclosed
Carbon Intensity:Not disclosed

ESG Focus Areas

  • Health & Quality Products
  • Responsible Sourcing
  • Environment
  • Heritage
  • People
  • Communities

Environmental Achievements

  • 67% of electricity used comes from renewable sources.
  • 24% CO2 emission reduction compared to business as usual (18% reduction achieved).
  • 140,000 trees planted in 2020.
  • Reached target of 100% sustainable palm oil.

Social Achievements

  • Launched Cacao-Trace program, paying a Chocolate Bonus of €453,675 to farmers.
  • 129 students graduated from Bakery Schools and were employed.
  • Implemented a Covid-19 group guideline to protect employees.
  • Improved LTIR (Lost Time Incident Rate) to 0.75.

Governance Achievements

  • Updated Supplier Code of Conduct.
  • All employees completed mandatory training on ethical behavior.
  • Established a sustainability committee.

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Become water balanced by 2030.
  • Cocoa growers earn a living income by 2030.
  • End deforestation due to cocoa growing by 2030.
Medium-term Goals:
  • Become carbon neutral by 2025.
  • Plant 1.6 million trees by 2025.
  • 100% sustainable palm oil globally by 2025.
  • All Belcolade chocolate sustainable by 2025.
Short-term Goals:
  • Purchase 100% renewable electricity by 2023.
  • Register 10,000 sourdoughs in digital library by 2023.
  • 100% of Puratos facilities certified according to GFSI standards by 2022.

Environmental Challenges

  • Covid-19 pandemic impacted audits and operations.
  • Supply chain disruptions due to the pandemic and sesame seeds crisis.
  • Achieving carbon neutrality and water balance.
  • Ensuring ethical sourcing of raw materials.
Mitigation Strategies
  • Adapted to digital delivery formats for training.
  • Implemented a long and short-term plan to minimize the risk of ethylene oxide.
  • Invested in energy efficiency projects and renewable energy sources.
  • Implemented Cacao-Trace and other sustainable sourcing programs.
  • Updated Supplier Code of Conduct.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Increased number of audits globally.

Responsible Procurement
  • Supplier Code of Conduct
  • Sustainable sourcing of raw materials

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Not disclosed
Transition Risks
  • Not disclosed
Opportunities
  • Development of energy-efficient products

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI Standards: Core option

Certifications: Null

Third-party Assurance: Deloitte

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 17

Initiatives contribute to various SDGs (see SDG Index).

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Cacao-Trace chocolate
  • Sugar-reduced products
  • Plant-based alternatives

Awards & Recognition

  • CDP Climate Grade B (2020)
  • CDP Water Grade B (2020)

Reporting Period: 2021

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:94,308 tCO2e/year (Net Operations)
Scope 1 Emissions:79.719 tCO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:14.589 tCO2e/year
Scope 3 Emissions:121.999 tCO2e/year
Renewable Energy Share:79% of total electricity use
Total Energy Consumption:489,283 MWh/year
Water Consumption:1,982 ML/year
Waste Generated:Not disclosed
Carbon Intensity:Not disclosed

ESG Focus Areas

  • Healthy products
  • Climate change
  • Responsible sourcing
  • Community development
  • Employee well-being

Environmental Achievements

  • Operations in Vietnam, Thailand, and the chocolate factory in Brazil became carbon neutral.
  • Achieved a 30% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 CO2e emissions compared to a 'do nothing' scenario.
  • Reduced water consumption by 8.7% per ton produced.
  • 180,000 trees planted.

Social Achievements

  • Launched Cacao-Trace program, benefiting 9,438 farmers.
  • 33 students graduated from Bakery Schools in Brazil, 24 in South Africa, and 32 in India.
  • 178 students graduated from Bakery Schools since 2016 and were employed.
  • €1.025.845 million Chocolate Bonus distributed to Cacao-Trace farmers.

Governance Achievements

  • Established a sustainability committee reporting to the Group Finance Director and Regional Director North America.
  • Implemented mandatory training on ethical behavior and cybersecurity for all employees.
  • Developed an online Ethics Portal available in 40 languages.

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Not disclosed
Medium-term Goals:
  • By 2025: 17% of electricity needs produced on-site; reach at least 15% of fruit sourced compliant with Field to Fork strategy; reach 100% of fruit sourced compliant with Fruit Pesticide Policy; 100% of eggs and egg products from alternative breeding to cages.
  • By 2030: Water balanced; zero waste to landfill; reduce waste by promoting circular economy; cocoa growers earn a living income; deforestation due to cocoa growing for Belgian chocolate sector ends.
Short-term Goals:
  • By 2023: 100% renewable electricity; register 5,000 sourdoughs in digital library.
  • By 2025: Carbon neutral direct operations; 100% of outgoing packaging fully recyclable or reusable; 100% of virgin paper and wood packaging in Europe from certified sustainable forestry; 100% of palm oil purchased RSPO certified; plant 1.6 million trees in Cacao-Trace supply chain; all Belcolade chocolate sustainable.

Environmental Challenges

  • Covid-19 pandemic impact throughout the value chain.
  • Scarcity of palm kernel oil credits hindering 100% sustainable palm oil use.
  • Food safety incidents requiring product recalls or actions to minimize risks (e.g., sesame seeds crisis).
Mitigation Strategies
  • Adapted Global Puratos University agenda to digital delivery formats.
  • Increased purchase of sustainable palm oil and planned redemption of credits or investment in RSPO certified palm oil production.
  • Implemented long and short-term plans to minimize ethylene oxide risk in sesame seeds (e.g., removal from formulas, replacement with other seeds, sourcing from different origins).

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Not disclosed

Responsible Procurement
  • Supplier Code of Conduct
  • Policies on specific raw materials (palm oil, cocoa, fruit)

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Not disclosed
Transition Risks
  • Not disclosed
Opportunities
  • Development of energy-efficient products

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI Standards: Core option, UN Global Compact

Certifications: GFSI (BRC, IFS, SQF, FSSC22000), RSPO

Third-party Assurance: Deloitte (limited assurance)

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 17

Puratos' initiatives contribute to these SDGs through various programs and actions (detailed in SDG Index).

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Sugar-reduced products; plant-based alternatives; gluten-free alternatives; organic alternatives; sourdough-based products; Sunset Glaze (egg-wash alternative); Mimetic (butter alternative); Ambiante (non-dairy topping).

Awards & Recognition

  • Not disclosed

Reporting Period: 2023

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:78,920 tCO2e/year
Scope 1 Emissions:78,369 tCO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:489 tCO2e/year
Scope 3 Emissions:26,351 tCO2e/year
Renewable Energy Share:100%
Total Energy Consumption:500,846 MWh/year
Water Consumption:1,925 ML/year
Waste Generated:83,000 tons/year
Carbon Intensity:91.14 (CO2 Intensity Index from stationary combustion)

ESG Focus Areas

  • Better Health
  • Better Planet
  • Better Life
  • Good Governance

Environmental Achievements

  • 43% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions compared with 2016 (base year)
  • 100% of electricity used by the Group comes from renewable sources
  • Water consumption reduced by 10.7% per ton produced, compared with 2016 (base year)
  • 92% of outbound packaging is fully recyclable or reusable
  • 3 new sites became CO2 Neutral certified

Social Achievements

  • 32% of Puratos's sales came from the Health & Well-Being range of products
  • €2.4m annual Chocolate Bonus distributed
  • 515 students enrolled in the Bakery School program
  • 100% of employees received regular performance and career development reviews

Governance Achievements

  • Updated Business Ethics and Labor Code of Conduct
  • Online Ethics Portal – ‘Speak Up’ – available for employees in 40 languages
  • Mandatory training on ethical behavior and cyber security

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Not disclosed
Medium-term Goals:
  • Water-balanced by 2030
  • Zero waste to landfill worldwide by 2030
  • Health and well-being products to represent 50% of Puratos sales by 2030
Short-term Goals:
  • Carbon neutral in operations by 2025
  • 100% reusable or recyclable packaging by 2025
  • All palm oil purchased by the Puratos Group will be RSPO-certified under the Mass Balance supply chain model by 2025

Environmental Challenges

  • Geo-political instability, inflation and challenges with raw materials
  • Challenges in advancing commitment to sourcing cage-free eggs due to market dynamics and customer demands
Mitigation Strategies
  • Investing in energy efficiency initiatives (new technologies, energy recovery systems, utility optimization measures)
  • Collaboration with Solidaridad Network to promote sustainable palm oil production
  • Exploring different ways to contribute to animal welfare and environmental stewardship

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Not disclosed

Responsible Procurement
  • Supplier Code of Conduct
  • Cacao-Trace program
  • Field to Fork program
  • RSPO certification for palm oil

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Not disclosed
Transition Risks
  • Not disclosed
Opportunities
  • Not disclosed

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI Standards: Core option

Certifications: Null

Third-party Assurance: Deloitte

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • Not disclosed

Aligned with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Mimetic (plant-based specialty fat), Puravita (whole grain breads), Topfil Finest (fruit fillings), Cremfil Ultim (nut and chocolate fillings)

Awards & Recognition

  • Top Employer in Belgium and Spain, Great Place to Work in Turkey, Mexico, Peru and Brazil, Best Companies to Work for Asia in Malaysia, Best Companies for Youth in Dominican Republic, Best Companies according to Apertura magazine in Argentina