Nutreco
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Sustainability targets
At the end of 2009, the Executive Board took a further step by setting specific targets for the businesses. While leading us towards the vision contained in the policy, these targets must be valid, achievable and have a bearable cost. The targets are listed in this report. For example, we have a vision to make Nutreco carbon neutral and we challenged the operating companies to achieve a reduction of 50% of the carbon footprint from Nutreco plants in 2009 by 2015. It is a valid sustainability goal and it is achievable at a cost we can accept. The programme begins now. Although Nutreco activities generate only a small part of the greenhouse gas emissions of the full value chains, this target is important for two reasons. First, it is a contribution to reducing greenhouse gases and, second, it is an initiative that everyone in Nutreco can relate to, helping to create awareness of sustainability objectives and commitment in Nutreco.
As with greenhouse gas emissions, sourcing of sustainable raw materials requires coordinated actions along the value chains. All stakeholders must agree on definitions of sustainability for key raw materials and apply them collectively, supporting those farmers that responsibly meet these criteria. If Nutreco were to act in isolation, selecting sustainable raw materials, the less sustainable raw materials would be consumed elsewhere. That is why we also set targets to initiate and participate in value chain actions aimed at raising sustainability throughout the chains and targets for Nutreco Purchasing to develop a vendor policy. We also set targets for each individual operating company: by the end of 2010 they each have their own sustainability plan based on the global sustainability policy, but with local implementation and actions. R&D in the meantime will be focusing on developing sustainable products. Linking progress towards these targets with the variable component of the remuneration of Nutreco managers marked a significant advance in 2009 in the sustainability journey of Nutreco.
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