Uelzena retains focus on local ingredient sourcing with sustainability report
Sourcing natural local ingredients emerged as one of the key priorities from the Uelzena Group in its fifth sustainability report examining its global business operations.
Titled “Sustainable growth, well prepared for the future,” the study sought to measure progress against its 2019 achievements within five key areas – products, production, employees, and social and regional responsibility.
Underlining its core focus on local sourcing, a total of 86 % of raw ingredients and packaging materials were purchased regionally in 2019, helping the company contribute to greater regional added value as well as greater sustainability due to shorter transport routes.
The newly acquired milk suppliers made it possible to achieve an increase of 21 % in milk deliveries and reach a new record level. The Uelzena Group, which has devised a number of solutions for the confectionery and bakery market segments, supports its goal to source milk raw materials as sustainably as possible by participating in the QM sustainability module milk.
With its continued participation in the sustainability module, Uelzena is consistently pursuing its approach to secure milk production on a long-term basis. The project is entering a second round in July 2020 after a three-year pilot phase.
Climate change: Challenges for milk production
Milk production and climate protection are the main topics of this year’s report. Milk producers are affected by climate change in two respects: They feel the effects of climate change directly due to persistent drought and the resulting feed scarcity and they can also help to reduce greenhouse gases, achieving climate goals.
An interview with an Uelzena milk producer, who is focusing on the carbon footprint of his milk, examines the topic of climate-friendly milk production. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions also plays a major role at the processing level. For instance, the Uelzena Group reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 52 % based on production volume compared with 2012.
These results and other key figures have been recorded transparently by the group for the past six years since in accordance with the GRI Guidelines. You can find the key figures in the online 2019 sustainability report.
Furthermore, as the company noted, its sustainability strategy has been reviewed and revised over the past two years. Based on a new stakeholder and materiality analysis, the objectives and measures in the individual action fields have been adjusted and new key performance figures defined. These set the path for the corporate strategy 2025.
