SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Positive industry

As a major industrial player active in numerous sectors around the world, reducing our environmental impact and harnessing the potential of our raw materials are among our most important responsibilities. This is why we have decided to place the circular economy at the heart of our practices, to ensure that our plant waste is recycled as new resources.

The continuous improvement process in which Tereos is engaged is based on two priorities: reducing our water and energy consumption, and developing new ways of recycling non-food waste in our facilities. To achieve these aims, we place the circular economy at the heart of our actions as we strive to develop a model of positive industry.

The rationale of the circular economy allows us to limit our environmental impact by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and increasing our use of renewables, while improving our industrial and commercial performance.

The Group’s commitments include cutting down on water consumption, improved recycling and recovery of fibre and protein residues for use as animal nutrition.

55%

of the energy consumed in Tereos' plants is of renewable origin

99%

recovery rate of our agricultural raw materials

A virtuous circuit of the use of water

A beet contains 75% water. It is in volume the first production of a candy! Tereos has been working for a long time to make the most of this natural resource in its factories. The water extracted from the beet is stored in basins before being reintroduced into the transformation process. Part of this water rich in nutrients will also irrigate the cultivated land near the sugar factories. This is the principle of fertirrigation (fertilization and irrigation). Three Tereos sites (Artenay, Boiry, Connantre), use this technique, which brings a double benefit to farmers. It prevents them from drawing in the natural environment and brings to the cultures elements rich in minerals.

 

Waste: nothing is lost everything is transformed

Waste recovery is a strong commitment at Tereos, which has placed the circular economy at the heart of its production and processing of raw materials. In 2017, Tereos, NestlĂ© and the Bonduelle Group joined forces in an industrial group to supply agricultural raw materials for the Group’s new biogas plant in the Somme region. This is the opportunity for Tereos to valorize its beet residues in the form of biogas or agricultural spreading, distributed on the lands of the 30 farmers participating in this project.

 

Developing industrial synergies

In France, the Tereos starch plants in Nesle and Lillebonne optimise their performance and impact on their ecosystem by sharing knowledge, processes, resources and infrastructure with their partner companies. Discover the industrial synergy on our sites.