Lamb Weston/Meijer, a leading company in the area of high quality potato products, is on its way to achieving its sustainability objectives for 2020, shows its sustainability report, released recently.
Over the last two years the company has made a number of significant investments to support those ambitions. Compared to the reference year 2008, energy consumption per tonne of product has reduced by more than 21% and potato utilization has improved by 4.5%. Increasing transport by water and rail has reduced road transport by more than 6 million kilometers per year. Furthermore, Lamb Weston / Meijer pre-fries more than 82% of its products in a healthier frying oil. On an annual basis this equals a reduction of 9.6 million kilos of saturated fat through its products.
The company has a sustainability strategy that goes beyond corporate social responsibility. They believe in creating shared value for their clients, suppliers, employees and future generations. The strategy focuses on six areas – the Sustainable Six. These are Water, Energy & Emissions, Potato & Waste, Employees, Food Safety & Quality and Nutrition & Health.
In 2015, the company opened a state-of-the-art receiving area in Kruiningen. This has led to better potato utilization and improved product quality. In November 2016, it opened a new production line in Bergen op Zoom with the latest energy-efficiency technology. The new production line comprises innovations in the areas of cutting, optical grading, frying, freezing and utilities.
Lamb Weston/Meijer is also focusing heavily on a circular economy. By finding the most useful destinations for all the by-products and waste flows from its processes, it achieves environmental gains and more efficient production. Since 2008 the company sends zero waste to landfill and as of 2016 only 0.2% (mixed company waste) is incinerated.
Bas Alblas, CEO Lamb Weston / Meijer: “There’s a limit to what you can ask Mother Nature to give you. Yet, if you treat her well she will respond in kind. It’s a symbiotic relationship in which both parties need to benefit. This standpoint is fundamental to our sustainability program and strategy. We believe in give and take. In the micro and the macro. In the company and society.”
According to the company, the priorities for the coming two years include reducing direct water consumption and further improvement of the nutritional value of its potato products (less salt and less fat). And there will be even more focus on making the entire value chain more sustainable, from fork to field.
