FDBusiness.com

Food ingredients manufacturer Palsgaard has revealed that it achieved CO2-neutrality at its Danish plant during 2015, as it reconfirms plans to achieve a zero carbon footprint at all of its production plants worldwide by 2020.

The milestone was achieved by optimising the energy consumption throughout the plant in the form of heat recovery and insulation, converting from heavy fuel oil to biogas, lighting optimisation and by making use of certified wind power. Palsgaard has also established its own straw-fired central heating systems, which have enabled the company to achieve a zero carbon footprint in Denmark five years earlier than previously planned. The reduction in CO2 emissions for 2015 alone amounted to 16,088 tons – the typical annual emissions of around 4,200 Danish households.

Birger Brix, group CEO for Palsgaard owner the Schou Foundation, said: “We’re immensely proud to have reached this milestone, the result of extensive efforts since the goal was established in 2010. And we’re particularly pleased to have proven that it’s possible even in an industry whose production processes are energy-intensive, to say the least.”

Anders Bjørn, from the Technical University of Denmark, explained why it’s important that companies take active measures: “The climate challenge is enormous and current political commitments are far from sufficient to solve it. Therefore, it is encouraging to see Palsgaard prove that with an ambitious effort it is possible to combine energy-intensive production in this country with CO2 neutrality.”

“It is also positive that Palsgaard not only intends to do better in Denmark, but also has a target of CO2 neutrality for its production sites abroad and is trying to reduce environmental problems from the palm oil they purchase.”

The Danish government’s minister for energy, utilities and climate, Lars Christian Lilleholt, added: “Palsgaard can be an inspiration to other companies, especially when it comes to demonstrating that the transition to renewable energy and energy saving measures can go hand in hand with commercial interests. This illustrates that green transition and growth need not be mutually exclusive. It is green realism.

“One of the reasons that we have a more efficient and energy-saving industry today is because of companies like Palsgaard, which has now achieved CO2-neutrality. It is quite impressive that they have managed to reduce the company’s energy consumption.”