Environmentally friendly factories and offices

In 2019 we started rolling out the action plans to achieve energy savings. Each site focuses on its own top 5 energy saving measures. By optimising the geothermal heat pump system, gas consumption at our head office in Nijkerk has been reduced to zero. The ambition for 2020 is that our site in Barneveld also becomes climate-neutral. To achieve this, heat pumps will be used.

Our energy consumption per tonne of product fell by 21.3% in 2019 in comparison with 2005. This means that we did not achieve our target of a 24.5% reduction. In Gorinchem an energy reduction of 6% per tonne of product was achieved compared to 2018 by implementing process improvements. In Scharsterbrug, the long-term downward trend in energy consumption has unfortunately been reversed, with energy consumption increasing by 7% per tonne of product in 2019 compared to 2018. This increase can be explained by the fact that in 2019 milk powder was mainly produced from goat's milk. For various reasons, production with goat's milk has a negative effect on the capacity and the amount of energy and water needed. The target for Vreugdenhil is to use 34% less energy per tonne in 2022 compared to 2005. To achieve this target, we are aiming for a 30% reduction in energy consumption per tonne of product in 2020%.

In line with last year, 14.6% of our energy consumption in 2019 was sustainable. As a result, we just missed our target of 14.9%. However, we are well on our way to achieving our target of 18% by 2022. In 2019, 100% of our electricity was once again green. Due to high costs, it was decided to discontinue the purchase of Guarantees of Origin (GVO) of Dutch wind turbines. In 2019, we therefore used green electricity from European wind energy certificates. 

We installed 1,284 solar panels on the roof of our production site in Gorinchem. These generate a total capacity of more than 300,000 kWh per year. That is enough power for more than 100 households. This saves more than 158 tonnes of CO2 per year. In 2020 we will also install solar panels in Barneveld and Scharsterbrug. 

Our office in Nijkerk is one of the most sustainable office buildings in the Netherlands. It is environmentally friendly and has a pleasant working climate. The office has the five-star BREEAM-NL New Construction certificate, the highest sustainability level of this quality mark. 

In 2020, we will review our ambition to achieve climate-neutral production by 2029 and in what form we can achieve this ambition. 

2015     -12,1%

2016     -16%

2017     -20,1%

2018     -19,5%

2019     -21,3%

'Some time ago, we expressed our ambition to achieve climate-neutral production by 2029. The journey you have to make for this is a very exciting one,' says Sustainability Officer of Vreugdenhil Dairy Foods, Haaye Boonstra. 'The factories are constantly looking for ways to save energy, but you frequently run into practical problems. When can you implement the measure? Can we further increase efficiency? Are there any possibilities for a grant? And, of course, it also has to fit in with sustainable enterprise. It's an interesting challenge to solve this complex puzzle.'

Vreugdenhil Dairy Foods also took full advantage of this change in the arena last year. Haaye regards it as his mission to raise awareness among people. 'We have an ambition as a company. This is why it is becoming increasingly important to regard sustainability as part of our daily work. You have to help people become aware of sustainability. Last year, for example, at our largest production site in Gorinchem, we came to the conclusion that sustainability is too comprehensive to "do it on the side". We formed an energy team in which we could combine all actions. That was a significant turnaround.' 

He also sees this change towards dealing consciously with sustainability policy at the other Vreugdenhil sites. 'In Scharsterbrug the energy team has been working for years – successfully – to reduce energy consumption. We also started installing solar panels on the roof of the factory there. Supplying solar panels, as we have already experienced at our site in Gorinchem, is actually only a relatively small saving, but a very visible one. This visibility has a major impact on internal and external perception.'

In Barneveld the preparations for the installation of solar panels are also in full swing. Here we are working on a greater goal: making the plant climate-neutral by 2020. 'In Barneveld the local energy team decided to reduce gas consumption to zero by using heat pumps. The electricity within Vreugdenhil has been 100% green since 2015, so we can produce in a climate-neutral way. In addition, in 2019 great insight was gained into how we can reduce electricity consumption, for example by installing LED lighting and upgrading compressors with energy-efficient engines. 

They're all – big or smaller – parts of a larger whole: achieving Vreugdenhil's climate ambition.'

Remco Vrind, Facility Coordinator, location Barneveld

'Together we go for the maximum result'

'Sharing knowledge and working together are a prerequisite for achieving our climate ambition. Only together can we achieve the maximum result.' Remco Vrind, Facility Coordinator of the Barneveld site, has the floor. And granted: after his first 'climate meeting' he wasn't exactly bubbling over with enthusiasm. 'It's pretty general and abstract in the beginning, I found that rather difficult at times. But the more I attended those meetings, the more it grabbed me. It turned out that there were a lot of aspects we could save pm. And especially the fact that the components we could save on became clearer was great to see. And what we have now achieved, for example, is that by 2020 we will be able to install solar panels on our roofs. That's a result I'm very proud of. It pays off, and it's very visible. That's great to see.'

Another important project that got off the ground is Close Future. As part of this project, the traditional plastic cups, dozens of which ended up in residual waste each day, were replaced by cardboard cups. 'After use, these are stored in boxes, which are collected and recycled into cardboard. To top it all off, 1 euro per full box is donated to a self-chosen charity or foundation.' Replacing the old compressors with new, more durable ones also yielded substantial savings. 'Previously, the compressors consumed 400,000 kWh on an annual basis. Thanks to the unabated efforts of colleague Marcel van Meerveld, we now use new compressors, which consume only 240,000 kwh a year. This means a saving of 40%. Those are figures that look good in the books.'

Stijn Bekers, Project Manager Capex, location Gorinchem

'There's no button you can press to win 50% sustainability at once'

If there is one thing that Stijn Bekers, working in Gorinchem, has learned about sustainability, it is that there is no button you can press to win 50% sustainability at once. 'It's the sum total of the parts, all the steps together, that enable you to achieve your goals as an organisation.'

In his capacity as Capex Project Manager, Stijn is not only responsible for running projects, but also for investments in sustainability. A formidable task, for which as of this year he can rely on the knowledge and skills of the newly formed energy team. 'To achieve your goals, working together is crucial. Las we have achieved a number of important goals. For example, the factory has been running stably, which benefits energy consumption. In this way we can contribute to achieving the sustainability target without investing,' says Stijn. For each new project, in addition to the primary target, such as capacity increase or replacement, we also look at the impact on energy consumption. Wherever possible, we always take the impact on energy consumption or efficiency into account.'

The most visible change took place on the roof of one of the factories in Gorinchem. Some 1,300 solar panels were installed here last year. The total expected annual yield is approximately 300,000 kWh. By comparison: a four-person household consumes approximately 4,600 kWh per year. 'That is only a very small percentage of our consumption, but it does contribute to visible sustainable consumption,' says Stijn. There are also plans for the coming year. 'For example, we are in the process of optimising the steam boilers and 

are taking a closer look at our compressed air use. So plenty of plans and ambition,' says Stijn.

Ons watergebruik in 2019 was gemiddeld 4,0 m3 per ton product en is daarmee gedaald ten opzichte van 2018 (4,3 m3 ). De procesoptimalisaties in Gorinchem hebben geleid tot een lager watergebruik, terwijl in Scharsterbrug het watergebruik door gebruik van geitenmelk wat toenam. 

De water- en energiecijfers gelden voor de locaties Gorinchem en Scharsterbrug, samen verantwoordelijk voor 99% van ons energie- en watergebruik.