‘Decentralizing our production is one of the most important steps when it comes to increasing Koppert’s positive impact and reducing our negative footprint,’ says Director of Operations, Peter Couwels. ‘Bringing our products closer to our customer base naturally brings us closer to our sustainability goals.’
Koppert is increasingly implementing ‘local for local’ operations at headquarters and subsidiaries around the world to bring about shorter transportation distances, lower freight costs, risk mitigation for our living products, and a significant lowering of our emissions.
Global decentralization
‘Our initiatives in North America, such as the new local production and packaging facilities for Swirskii in Howell, Michigan, have yielded impressive outcomes. In this region alone, we have achieved an 80% reduction in GHG emissions on a designated transportation route, accompanied by substantial annual freight cost savings. In addition, the number of pallets shipped from the Netherlands to the USA decreased by 30%.’
Biofactory, Howel, Koppert US
We have set up the third biofactory for macrobials in Mexico, following in the footsteps of Spain and Brazil. Our next biofactory, which will be based in South Africa, is already on the drawing board. Of course, our pollination production sites in Mexico, Slovakia, Turkey and the USA have been operating close to our markets for years.
‘The CSRD reporting that becomes obligatory by 2026 is a blessing in disguise, giving us clear guidelines and targets to achieve. All our biofactories are fully committed to CSRD reporting. While our first focus lay on energy management, we are now looking at all aspects of our operations such as packaging and waste reduction, transportation, and the reduction of freight volumes, among others. Production, Supply Chain, R&D, Quality Management, Expedition are all continuously looking at ways of improving our impact and reducing negative aspects.’
Embedded sustainability strategy
‘The Future Forward Sustainability Strategy is merely the continuation of a process that has been going on at Koppert for more than half a century since the introduction of our biological solutions. This vision was further crystalized by the company’s mission statement set out in 2014. At this stage people were joining the company because they could identify with its mission. Our Sustainability Strategy will now further align the organization to realize its sustainability ambitions and keep these at the top of everybody’s mind when it comes to future planning and decision making.’
‘My personal passion for sustainability has its roots in hoping to leave a better world for my children and future generations. In Koppert’s mission and sustainability strategy, I have found a perfect match for my personal convictions and our responsibilities as individuals and as a company,’ Peter Couwels concludes.