Mother Earth. She supports us, sustains us, and stands by us in times of need. We rely on our planet to keep spinning every day, and as such, it is our duty to practice sustainability. With the power to impact consumers and Mother Earth alike, companies in the food business have stepped up across the industry to practice sustainability. One of the world’s largest crispbread manufacturers, Wasa, recently made a monumental move to become more sustainable, announcing that its global operations are now 100 percent carbon neutral.
“We’re proud to continue honoring our core values and commitment to the environment by stepping up for the planet and achieving carbon neutrality,” said Jean-Pierre Comte, President, Barilla Americas. “With Wasa celebrating our 100th anniversary this year, it’s more important than ever to continue looking to the future and ensuring we’re making a positive impact for generations to come.”
Since 2010, Wasa has been working to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by measuring and reducing its carbon footprint through the product lifecycle, from the field to the shelf. Key initiatives implemented in recent years include increasing the use of rail logistics for efficient delivery of ingredients and products, launching several energy-saving projects, as well as buying electrical energy from renewable sources guaranteed by origin certificates, and the use of verified emissions reduction credits (VER).
“We want people to know that when they choose Wasa, they’re not only making a healthy lifestyle choice, but a sustainable choice from a brand that’s taking action on climate change,” added Comte.
The two main carbon compensation projects Wasa supports are a rainforest protection project in Peru, which is one of the world’s biodiversity hot spots, and a solar energy project in India, helping to provide solar energy access in rural areas of the country. According to a press release, these projects were chosen after a careful evaluation of their real impact on climate change and local communities. Additionally, these initiatives help bring social, environmental, and economic benefits that are in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Visit Wasa's reference website for the Carbon Neutral initiative and the company's Carbon Neutral booklet for more information.
In the food business, Mother Earth is our friend. So keep checking out the newest sustainability initiatives in the industry as we at Deli Market News bring you the latest.
