Sustainable development goals

Development goals

Work befitting human dignity

The 8th Sustainable Development Goal, “Decent work and economic growth”, is a fundamental issue for the spice industry. We want to use our supply chain to positively influence human rights.

When sourcing our raw materials, most of which originate from south-east Asia and the Orient, we focus strongly on human rights and working conditions. Our goal is that 100% of our strategic business partners for raw materials such as spices, oils, salt and additives should fall into sustainability group categories by the beginning of 2023. We will be using a special supplier evaluation system to realise this goal and, where necessary, also carry out supplier audits. Such audits will review suppliers’ potential to influence due diligence within the supply chain and require them to make changes. The majority of our business partners are based in Europe.

In addition to this we carry out an annual raw materials scoring procedure for all items which are supplied in significant quantities. The exact procedure depends on where the raw materials come from and the corresponding risks associated with them. In the case of critical raw materials we inspect our direct suppliers. Our objective is firstly to generate improved transparency within our supply chain and, secondly, to use the raw materials scoring system as a tool to significantly raise our suppliers’ awareness of such issues.

Climate protection measures

One of our key sustainability goals is in the environmental field. In 2021 we recorded the status quo of our CO2 emissions for the first time, taking 2019 as our reference year. Using the GHG Protocol we compiled a climate assessment report, which included company-relevant Scope 1 to Scope 3 emissions*1 and thus also activities which are not directly associated with the company. Using the data we gathered on our emissions we are now pursuing systematic CO2 reduction goals and have implemented action plans. Our reduction goals envisage making specific, documented potential savings to reduce and avoid emissions. They include, for example, improved energy efficiency; using alternative cooling liquids; using recyclable packaging; reducing waste and using motion sensor-controlled LED lighting.

 

In addition to this, in 2015 we introduced a systematic energy management system. Its objectives are to conserve resources and protect the environment. A photovoltaic system covering an area of 160 m² has been installed on our company roof and generates 180 000 kilowatt hours per year. This is, however, still not enough to cover all our power needs so we have decided that from the beginning of 2024 we will use only certified green electricity generated using sustainable energy sources to cover the needs of our production site in Belm, Germany.

Funding of trustworthy climate protection projects will fully offset the remaining Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by early 2025. At company level the additional purchase of climate protection certificates will ensure that our site in Belm is net climate neutral*2 by the beginning of 2025.

Data protection

As digitisation expands, data protection continues to be an important issue. To ensure the greatest possible data protection security for our stakeholders and ourselves we have set the goal of extending our data protection systems by the end of 2022. Furthermore, to ensure maximum security our internal data protection programme will be supported by an additional external data protection officer.

Industrial safety

It goes without saying that we place great value on the safety of our employees in the workplace. Correspondingly we have a systematic industrial safety management programme supported by an external industrial safety officer. In addition to this, we participate in an annual external assessment procedure carried out by the Berufsgenossenschaft Nahrungsmittel und Gaststätten (BGN) employers’ liability insurance association and consistently achieve above-average ratings. The assessment includes all industrial safety and health protection measures and thus exceeds statutory requirements. By the end of 2023 we aim to further reduce our sick rates by introducing more industrial safety measures, thus reaching figures which are significantly below the 1000-person rate set by the BGN for our sector.

*1Company-relevant Scope 3 emission categories are: purchased services; fuel- and energy-related emissions; upstream transport; downstream transport; waste generated in the company; business-related travel; disposal of purchased products

*Offsetting through the purchase of climate protection certificates